Great Apes

Gaia has always had a strong maternal instinct, helping her mother Gremlin in raising the twins. Now Gaia is ready to have a child of her own.

Learn about JGI's work in Africa and around the world: chimpanzee behavioral research at Gombe National Park in Tanzania, our Tchimpounga sanctuary for chimp orphans, our work with communities to promote sustainable livelihoods, and our global youth program, Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots.

The only known living twin chimpanzees in the wild, Golden and Glitter rely not only on the love and nurturing of their mother Gremlin and older sister Gaia, but on the strong bond they have with each other.

Like chimpanzees, gorillas are endangered. Dr. Goodall discusses some of the threats facing these magnificent creatures and how you can help save them.

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.