Institute News Archives 2007

Effects of Gombe Research Far-Reaching

A recent paper highlights the critical contribution that the ongoing research projects at Gombe National Park are making to the long-term conservation of wild chimpanzee populations. The research project, pioneered by Dr. Goodall in 1960, represents the world’s longest-running study of a wild species.

Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking discoveries in what was then a game reserve drew attention to the area and created support for upgrading Gombe to national park status in 1968.
The highly publicized research findings have earned Gombe and Tanzania the attention of a worldwide public that includes tourists and donors that provide financial support for Gombe, other parks in Tanzania, and chimpanzee conservation in general.
The information on chimpanzee social structure and habitat use that has been gathered is essential for effective conservation at Gombe and elsewhere.
The picture of Gombe’s chimp population that has been developed has helped identify the greatest threats to the viability of this population, namely disease and habitat loss outside the park.

The paper concludes that saving the famous chimps in Gombe will take an integrated effort on the part of park managers, researchers and the local community, with financial help from international donors. This paper was authored by Anne Pusey, Lilian Pintea, Michael Wilson, Shadrack Kamenya and Jane Goodall.

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Jane Goodall joins call for immediate action to curb deforestation

9/27/2007 - JGI US

During the Clinton Global Initiative earlier this week, Jane Goodall furthered JGI's efforts to combat climate change by signing the Forests NOW Declaration, which calls on world governments to take urgent action on deforestation.

The Declaration, which will be delivered to world leaders attending the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bali this December, calls for incentives, assistance, and other forest protection measures to be included in any carbon market mechanisms adopted at the convention.

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Uganda Team Rescues Chimp Caught in a Trap

April 2007

In April of this year the JGI team in Uganda received a call from Masindi township in the north of the country alerting them to the fact that a young chimp had been found in a “mantrap”. When the team arrived they found that the chimp was still alive although his wrist had been crushed by the vicious trap.

“Although these traps are illegal, farmers still use them to protect their crops from crop raiding wildlife, mainly baboons and pigs,” says JGI Uganda Executive Director Debby Cox. “The traps are deadly, so far we know of two chimps that have died in them.”

Thanks to the quick thinking of the local people, this chimp escaped that fate. Vets working with JGI and a partner organization managed to tranquillize the chimp, remove the trap and send him on his way with a dose of antibiotics in the hope that his wounds would heal.

The incident highlights the ongoing conflicts that occur between human populations and wild chimpanzees and other animals, which continue to be trapped and sold as bushmeat in markets across Africa and around the world. At the same time, however, it demonstrates the growing commitment of villagers in the areas where JGI is active to protection of chimpanzees.