Conservation Corner:
Saving Chimpanzees through Collaborative Conservation

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The AZA’s SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) mission is clear: to improve the population status of all four chimpanzee subspecies. This goal can be achieved through collaborative conservation action, active stakeholder engagement, and increased public awareness. Protecting these intelligent and social creatures is not just about saving a species; it’s about preserving the complex ecosystems they inhabit and the biodiversity they support.

The Problem: Rapidly Declining Chimpanzee Populations

Wild chimpanzee populations are in crisis. They have already vanished from four African countries and are nearing extinction in many others. In some regions, their numbers have plummeted by over 80% in just 25 years. Urgent action is required to halt and reverse this decline.

THE THREATS TO CHIMPANZEES

  1. Habitat Loss: Deforestation and habitat fragmentation, driven by rapid human population growth, are devastating chimpanzee habitats. Forests are converted into agricultural land, isolating habitats and disrupting chimpanzee movement, access to resources, and gene flow. This also increases human-chimpanzee conflicts, often leading to retaliatory hunting.
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  2. Poaching: Poaching is a major threat to chimpanzees, driven by human-wildlife conflict, the bushmeat trade, and the pet trade. To capture one live infant, poachers often kill up to ten adults. Slow reproductive rates make population recovery difficult. Despite international laws, poaching persists due to demand for bushmeat, pets, and traditional rituals.
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  3. Infectious Disease: The genetic similarities between humans and chimpanzees make them vulnerable to pathogens introduced by human intrusion. Though disease is natural in wildlife, chimpanzees are especially susceptible to infectious diseases that can quickly decimate populations.
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SAFE CHIMPANZEES IS TAKING ACTION

Collaborative Efforts
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Habitat Protection
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Public & Stakeholder Engagement
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Funding & Support
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HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION
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Through collective effort and dedicated action, we can protect chimpanzees and ensure their survival for generations to come.

Every action counts in the fight to save these remarkable beings.
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