See the Bulging Muscles of This Insanely Buff Hairless Chimp

You know chimpanzees are unbelievably strong, capable of ripping through flesh and tearing off ears and testes. But you don’t get to appreciate just how muscular these creatures on — unless they’re hairless. Watch the video at the bottom of the page to witness some seriously building muscles and to see how chimps interact with and protect one another.  

Why Are Some Chimps Hairless?

Like humans, chimpanzees can suffer from alopecia. Alopecia is a disease that causes hair loss. It’s an autoimmune condition that results in the immune system attacking the person’s — or in this case, the chimp’s — entire body indiscriminately. Researchers believe the condition can be triggered by stress, which is also the case with humans. Chimpanzees share up to 98% of the same DNA as humans, which explains why this similarity is possible. However, as you’ll see in the video at the bottom of the page, you can’t do too much comparing the two species as chimpanzees are remarkably muscular and at least four times stronger than their human counterparts.

Do Chimps Form Alliances With One Another?

The University of Michigan led a study about chimpanzee cooperation that demonstrated how male chimps that form bonds with the alpha have better chances at securing their offspring. Researchers had observed grooming behavior between males and sought to understand what the benefit of cooperation was. For males, the most important task is ensuring access to females to reproduce. So, they form alliances and form groups to defend their territories. All of this is in the service of their offspring. Forming alliances with other males ensures they can have babies.

Hairless Chimp Has Bulging Muscles

When the video below starts, you can see the bulging, muscular back of a hairless chimp. There are other chimps in the background as you hear the zookeeper explaining more about them. The video was taken at the Twycross Zoo in Atherstone, England. The two hairless chimps are Jambo and Mongo, a father and son who both suffer from alopecia. The hairless chimp in the foreground leans down to snack on something in the grass.

Another scene shows him running, grabbing a hold of ropes in the enclosure, and swinging. Another scene shows how noisy these chimps get as they scream at one another, baring their large yellowing teeth. One of the hairless chimps gets cornered and walks backward, facing the hairy chimp approaching him. But another chimp comes to his defense, wrapping its arms around him. Mongo is the one getting cornered and the chimp that steps in is a female called Nobby. She has an interesting way of demonstrating her protective intentions!

Watch the Video Below!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Darren Hopping-Mills/Shutterstock.com