Chuck Ripper (American, B. 1929) "Chimpanzee Sitting on a Tree Branch" Signed lower right. Original Gouache/Watercolor painting on Watercolor Board.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting is the original painting which appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the United Nations Endangered Species Series 29c Chimpanzee stamp issued March 18, 1994.

Few creatures on Earth remind man of himself so much as the Chimpanzee. Expressive, gregarious and intelligent, chimps are also aggressive, territorial and temperamental. Many behaviors humans had thought were restricted to mankind have been observed in Chimpanzees, including toolmaking and even making war. Chimps have, for example, been seen inserting twigs into termite nests to extract tasty insects. In addition, groups of male Chimpanzees have been known to raid the territories of neighboring bands of chimps. Scientists have even observed them capturing and eating small mammals, including young baboons. Yet no Chimpanzee is a match for man, and the impact of human activities on wild chimps has resulted in rapid declines in their populations. Every year, more wilderness areas populated by Chimpanzees are developed. Rain forests are cut down and savannas plowed into cropland. Chimpanzees are also widely used in biological, medical and psychological experimentation, where their similarity to humans is considered a valuable asset. Men who would learn more about the rise of humanity are trying to preserve wild groups of Chimpanzees, for it is thought that mankind rose from apes much like these millions of years ago.

Image Size: 14.5 x 12.25 in.
Overall Size: 17.75 x 14.75 in.
Unframed.
(B14618)

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