Just a century ago, more than 1 million chimpanzees roamed the African forests. Today, scientists figure there are perhaps as few as 200,000 chimpanzees left.
Without concerted action, the possibility of zero chimpanzees in the wild – indeed, a world in which remaining forests and savannas are virtually empty – is all too real. As Jane Goodall says, “We must not let it happen.”
When Jane first stepped into the forest with her binoculars and notebook, her mission was clear: shed light on the little-known lives of wild chimpanzees. But in response to the deepening environmental crisis throughout Equatorial Africa, Jane’s work expanded. Today, protecting chimpanzees is at the heart of the Jane Goodall Institute’s work, even as we continue the research that started it all.
Want to know more about chimps? Visit Chimpanzee Central: