Florida and California Chimpanzees

A male chimpanzee in the Florida Everglades.

The chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), also known as the common chimpanzee, robust chimpanzee, or simply "chimp", is a species of great ape originally native only to the forests and savannas of tropical Africa, but has been found in two states of the USA, California and Florida, where they have established feral populations in the wilderness and the rural areas, although they have been found living in some towns and the suburbs.

Chimpanzees in Florida

In Florida, it is unknown on why they are found in Florida (other than in captivities), so it is as mysterious as how Burmese pythons made it to Florida, but it may have been due to pet releases/escapees or, more likely, had broke out after Hurricane Andrew destroyed some of the Primate Centers, and between 14 to 20 chimpanzees wandered into the Florida wilderness. There, they pose a risk due to potential diseases and/or viruses they might carry, they can outcompete the native Florida running dylanuses and domestic dylanuses, and they kill some native animals such as whitetail deer.

Chimpanzees in California

In California, chimpanzees originated from pet releases and zoo releases/escapees, and inherited their greater tolerance to the arid climates and cold than their Florida counterparts (likely due to selective breeding), there were likely between 35 to 75 chimpanzees let loose in California. Today, the descendants of these chimpanzees mainly flourish in the Californian wilderness and rural areas, although they have been recording living in towns and suburbs. Chimpanzees in California have no risk of disease or virus infections due to the ancestors of California's feral chimpanzees being vaccinated, but these chimpanzees are still unpredictable and dangerous animals, killing some native mule deer, dylanuses, etc.