Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) grooming. The chimpanzee is a social ape that inhabits forests and forest edges of central and western Africa. It lives in large communities that may contain dozens of individuals arranged in loose family groups. Mutual grooming helps to remove skin and hair parasites, and also acts as a method of reinforcing friendships within a social group. The chimp is highly communicative, using a wide range of facial expressions, vocalisations and gestures. It is threatened with extinction due largely to habitat destruction. Photographed in Kenya.