London Chimpanzee Sculpture Trail Walk

Did you know there was an amazing Monkey Sculpture Trail walk in London? If you are looking for something to do or somewhere to walk in London then try the London Chimpanzee Sculpture Trail Walk.

The sculpture trail of monkeys in London is in-between London Bridge and Tower Bridge on the south bank of the river Thames and is a great way to see parts of London you haven’t seen before. I love statues an there are plenty in London to find such as the Leicester square film statues too. These statues however are a temporary display so you need to get up and walk around London soon.

There are 18 sculptures Of Chimpanzees from Love the Last demonstrating different behaviours and emotions shown by chimps and they are adorable! They are scattered along the roads near Tower bridge in and around Tooley street and London Bridge. They each show us a unique nature of the chimps such as Love, grief, laughter and communication. they even show us how they forage and hunt in the wild.

Every thing you need to know about the chimps on the London Sculpture Trail Walk

What is the Monkey London Sculpture Trail Walk about?

TheLondon Chimpanzee Sculpture Trail walk is about endangered animals. Humans are the biggest threats to Chimpanzees and they are now endangered because of our actions. Because the increase in human populations, miles of their habitat is being destroyed thus making it harder for the chimps to survive. This forces them to them to live in smaller and puts a strain on food options. This has led to Chimps coming in to human settlements to steal food. In return families retaliate by killing the chimps to stop any them attacking children

Chimps are also targeted by hunters for food as they provide plenty of meat compared to other smaller animals. The hunters are also known to take the young chimps in as their pets and sell them on the illegal pet trading. The Sculptures are to bring awareness to these sad situations.

Who where the Chimpanzee sculptures made by?

Gillie and Marc who designed the sculptures are committed to raising awareness for endangered species. They want to get people to experience these creatures up-close and begin to care about them through public art. Gillie and Marc crafted the Chimpanzee statues in everlasting bronze.

About the Apes and chimps on the London Sculpture Trail Walk

The great apes – chimpanzee, orangutan, gorillas, and bonobos – are our closest relatives. Chimpanzees and Gorilla show the same emotions like laughter and sadness, and use facial expressions, gestures and sounds to communicate, just like humans! In fact these apes share 98% of their DNA with Humans and also their emotions which include love, grief, friendship and conflict.

How many Monkey sculptures are there on the Southbank?

There are 18 Chimpanzee sculptures over near Tower Bridge and each one has a name and a QR Code. You can read about the expressions and the Monkeys on each statue.

Meet the Chimpanzees

Each chimp has a QR code on it you can scan it on your phone for more info about the specific ape and what that statue is based on. There is more info online about each ape and it is lovely to learn more about the chimpanzee conservation efforts.

Noah The Chimpanzee Demonstrating Wild Chimp Nest Making

This is Noah The chimpanzee on the south bank his plaque underneath him tells us of the chimp nature the sculpture is demonstating.

• NOAH
• MALE, AGE 6
• #ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP NEST MAKING

Chimps make sophisticated nests in the trees by pulling branches down to make a comfortable and stable leafy bed.

Each chimp makes their own nest every night and chimps under the age of two and a half sleep with their mothers.

Alex and Owen chimp statue

Alex and Owen demostrate Wild Chimp Conflict their plaque reads;

• ALEX AND OWEN
• MALES, AGE 10 and 12
• #ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP CONFLICT

One of the downsides to being so similar to humans is the tendency for violence. Chimpanzees can have conflict, not only within their own communities, but also with neighbouring groups which can sometimes even lead to all-out war!

Amelia the Chimp Sculpture in London

Amelia is a huge statue! She demonstrates wild chimp tool use her plaque reads;

• AMELIA
• FEMALE, AGE 13
• #ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP TOOL USE

Chimpanzees use and manipulate objects as tools, a skill which was originally thought to be distinctly human. This discovery shocked the scientific community and made us re-evaluate what it is to be human. Here, a chimp uses a stick to fish for termites.

SCULPTURE BY GILLIE AND MARC 2022

Day and Light

Day and Light demonstrate wild chimp knuckle walking their plaque reads:

• DAY AND LIGHT
• FEMALES, AGE 13 and 1
• #ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP KNUCKLE WALKING

Chimps often walk on their knuckles like many apes.

Even though they usually walk on four limbs (quadrupedal), they only have two legs, just like us. Because of this stvle of walking, a chimp’s arms and legs are the same length so they are balanced.

Flick the Chimp

Flick the chimp shows us how chimps forage in the wild his plaque reads;

• FLICK
• MALE, AGE 3
• #ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP FORAGING

A big part of a chimp’s life is spent foraging for food.

They can spend up to 8 hours a day foraging, mainly looking for fruit, nuts, seeds and leaves. They will often go on selected routes and can use tools to help them.

Adisa the chimp showing us the Hooting nature

Adisa the chimp shows us the Hooting nature the plaque underneath reads;

• ADISA
• MALE, AGE 5
• #ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP HOOTING

Both males and females pan-hoot for many different purposes. Chorusing can be used to form social groups of males and show dominance and strength. Chimps also hoot to identify the location of fruit trees to tell the others of the resources available.

SCULPTURE BY GILLIE AND MARC 2022

Jaska the male chimp

Jaska the male chimp show how they can walk on two feet his plaque reads;

• JASKA
• MALE, AGE 17
• ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP BIPEDAL WALKING

It was discovered that, when necessary, chimps can walk bipedally or on two legs. This was seen during a polio epidemic when a chimp lost the use of his arm. He was able to walk on his legs looking very much like a human!

Hope and Dawn chimps

Hope and Dawn chimps show us Love! Their plaque reads;

• HOPE AND DAWN
• FEMALES, AGE 9 and 3
• #ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP LOVE

Chimps can be very loving. They often cuddle or touch each other to show their support and connection. Just like us, a mother’s love is very important and can last a lifetime.

Here, a mother and child share a special moment.

Asher and Issac

Asher and Issac show us just how similar they are to humans by demonstrating how they laugh together;

• ASHER AND ISSAC
• MALES, AGE 5 and 7
• #ChimpsAreFamily # Love TheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP LAUGHTER

Chimpanzees are capable of empathy and can even laugh.

This has disproved a quote by Aristotle that “only the human animal laughs”, It is important to understand these diverse emotions in other animals to know that it is not just us who feel and display emotions.

Anissa and Cassie chimps

The bronze statues of Anissa and Cassie chimps are grooming each other their plaque reads;

• ANISSA AND CASSIE
• FEMALES, AGE 37 and 15
• #ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP GROOMING

Grooming is an important part of the lives of chimps lis not necessarily about cleaning, it has a lot more to do with physical connection and bonding, it can help bulld alliances and forge relationships

Esme an older female chimp

Esme an older female chimp show us grief;

• ESME
• FEMALE, AGE 47
• #ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP GRIEF

It has been found that chimps experience grief just like humans. They mourn their dead and can even become depressed. This shows that chimps have a much broader range of emotions than once thought. Here, a chimp sits alone in her grief.

Chase the Chimp near London Bridge

Chase the Chimp near London Bridge show us how they hunt;

• CHASE
• MALE, AGE 11
• ChimpsAreFamily ALove Thelast
• TITLE. WILD CHIMP HUNTING

Chimpanzees are not herbivores as most people think. They occasionally hunt, making them omnivores. They can hunt alone but also in groups, typically made up of males. Everything is shared with the community and it is thought that this is actually the most important aspect of hunting for chimps.

Artemis and Athena friends

Artemis and Athena friends demonstrating Friendship;

• ARTEMIS AND ATHENA
• FEMALES, AGE 28 and 35
• #ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE; WILD CHIMP FRIENDSHIP

Like us, chimpanzees are very social and need to make alliances and cooperate to survive. These special bonds help them tind food, support and protection. Having friends also lowers their levels of stress hormones!

Anya and Hugo

Anya and Hugo imitate each other is this wonderful Bronze statue on the walking trail;

• ANYA AND HUGO FEMALE AND MALE
• AGE 14 and 4
• #ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP IMITATION

Like us, chimps learn through imitalion. They will observe the members of their communities particulatly their mother, to learn the necessary skills needed for their survival. They will also imitate emotions howing a high level of empathy

Luca and Aiden are playing hide and Seek

Luca and Aiden are playing In this wonderful sculpture their plaque reads;

• LUCA AND AIDEN
• MALES, AGE 8 and 2
• #ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP PLAY

Just as is the case for any creature, play is an important part of learning and bonding for chimpanzees. There are many different ways they can play, such as wrestling and chasing: And it’s not just for children. Here, an older chimp chases a youngster.

Garter, Beau & Duke the chimps scultures

Garter, Beau & Duke the chimps sculptures are happily climbing a tree in this adorable sculpture of Chimp natures;

• GARTER, BEAU & DUKE
• MALES, AGE 5, 4, 6 (left to right)
• #ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP TREE CLIMBING

Like many primates, chimps are very adept at climbing trees. Their long, strong arms are perfect for pulling themselves up and swinging off branches. They spend a lot of time in trees, foraging for food and spending the night.

Gertrude displaying Wild chimp throwing

Gertrude displaying Wild chimp throwing her plaque reads;

• GERTRUDE
• FEMALE, AGE 8
• #ChimpsAreFamily #LoveTheLast
• TITLE: WILD CHIMP THROWING

Chimps throw things for many reasons. Males throw rocks and even spears as a display of dominance. But some chimps like to throw rocks at trees, often the same tree.

This may be a ritual or perhaps some trees make a nicer ‘thunk’

SCULPTURE BY GILLIE AND MARC 2022

Rachel Anne the Chimpanzee

Rachel Anne the Chimpanzee Showing us how they communicate;

• NAME Rachel Anne
• TITLE Wild Chimp Communication Skills
• GENDER Female
• AGE 21

Chimpanzees have their own complex system of communication. They may not do it verbally like us, but they sure can be vocal! They also have many facial expressions to convey their messages. This ability to communicate shows a higher level of intelligence.

Chimpanzees use over 30 different vocalisations for different situations. Some of these we would even recognise as similar our own, like a scream when they’re scared or angry, a whimper when distressed, and even a grunt of satisfaction with good food. 

How can you help the Endangered Chimpanzees?

​The sculpture will be aligned with the hashtags #LoveTheLast and #ChimpsAreFamily to raise awareness about the sculpture’s cause across the world. To help protect the great apes and their habitats you can give a donation to WWF UK here.