Chimpanzees

At the heart of the declining chimpanzee population is habitat loss and another, lesser known problem -- the illegal poaching of chimps and other great apes for meat. The Jane Goodall Institute works with governments and local communities to end this devastating practice.

Chimpanzees face a number of serious threats, including habitat destruction and the illegal poaching of animals for bushmeat. Habitat loss results from commercial logging, slash-and-burn agricultural practices and various mining activities. The Jane Goodall Institute works to eliminate these threats in the fight to save this precious species.

One of the animal world's most incredible stories of resilience and happy endings came to a quiet close in December 2008: Gregoire, Africa's oldest-known chimpanzee and a national hero in the Republic of Congo, died in his sleep. Caretakers found Gregoire dead in his bed of eucalyptus leaves at the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center, JGI's sanctuary for orphaned chimpanzees. News of Gregoire's death brought messages of condolence and sympathy to Jane and JGI from around the world.

Maternal bonds are a critical part of chimpanzee development. This video looks at Fifi, one of Gombe's most successful mothers, and how she cared for and nurtured her offspring.

Gombe's twin females are an adventurous pair with a taste for flying termites.

Jane Goodall's discovery that chimpanzees make and use tools changed the way scientists defined Man. The Gombe chimpanzees fashion several kinds of tools, including probes for "fishing" termites out of mounds.