Chimpanzees
Challenges
The main threats to chimpanzees are habitat loss, disease, and hunting, especially for bushmeat. These are exacerbated by chimps' slow reproductive rate—if an adult is killed, it takes 14-15 years to replace him or her as a breeding individual.
140 human diseases
Chimpanzees are vulnerable to more than 140 human diseases. As the number of people grows in and around their habitat, chimps are more likely to fall victim to illness.
Tackling Ebola
Among chimps and other great apes, the Ebola virus can have a devastating effect—the mortality rate is around 95%. Between 1994 and 2005, a series of outbreaks killed thousands.
To monitor Ebola in the Republic of Congo, WCS set up a vast surveillance network with locals. We've also created a lab in the capital, where rapid processing of samples can be done, greatly reducing the time between collection and diagnosis.
Why WCS?
3 subspecies
Of the four chimpanzee subspecies, WCS works directly on three.
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October 31, 2022
WCS Helps Congo Key in on Critical Wild Areas for Conservation (English and French)
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is building on its long-standing collaboration with the Republic of the Congo's government to work together to identify key biodiversity areas (KBAs) in a country incredibly rich in biodiversity.
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October 21, 2021
First-Ever Africa-Wide Great Ape Assessment Reveals Human Activity, not Habitat Availability, is Greatest Driver of Ape Abundance
The first-ever Africa-wide assessment of great apes – gorillas, bonobos and chimpanzees – finds that human factors, including roads, population density and GDP, determine abundance more than ecological factors such as forest cover.
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August 23, 2021
To Understand Future Habitat Needs for Chimpanzees, Look to the Past
A new study provides insight into where chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) avoided climate instability during glacial and interglacial periods in Africa over the past 120,000 years.
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View All News
WCS Helps Congo Key in on Critical Wild Areas for Conservation (English and French)
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is building on its long-standing collaboration with the Republic of the Congo's government to work together to identify key biodiversity areas (KBAs) in a country incredibly rich in biodiversity.
Read the storyFirst-Ever Africa-Wide Great Ape Assessment Reveals Human Activity, not Habitat Availability, is Greatest Driver of Ape Abundance
The first-ever Africa-wide assessment of great apes – gorillas, bonobos and chimpanzees – finds that human factors, including roads, population density and GDP, determine abundance more than ecological factors such as forest cover.
Read the storyTo Understand Future Habitat Needs for Chimpanzees, Look to the Past
A new study provides insight into where chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) avoided climate instability during glacial and interglacial periods in Africa over the past 120,000 years.
Read the storySign Up for Email Updates
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