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Do chimpanzees eat meat?

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A common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) sits on a rock holding a long blade of grass in its mouth, with dense green foliage in the background. — chimpanzee The West African, or masked, chimpanzee (*Pan troglodytes verus*) is a critically endangered subspecies of chimpanzee.

Yes, chimpanzees do eat meat. While their diet is primarily vegetarian—consisting of fruits, berries, leaves, blossoms, and seeds—they are known to be omnivorous.123

Chimpanzees hunt both individually and in groups, stalking and killing various mammals, including monkeys, duikers, bushbucks, and wild pigs. In addition to hunting, they occasionally consume carrion, bird eggs, chicks, and insects. Among nonhuman primates, chimpanzees are unique in that the flesh of larger mammals is a recognized part of their diet.23

Furthermore, chimpanzees have been observed engaging in cannibalism, which can occur when they kill members of rival groups or, in rare instances, infants within their own community. Despite these behaviors, meat remains a supplementary part of their diet rather than their primary food source.1