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Wildlife
conservation is one of the central missions of modern zoos. With
more than 156 million visitors annually to North American zoos,
and almost 600 million to zoos worldwide, the potential for zoos
to inform people about conservation and motivate them to action
is truly amazing.
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Many
zoos also
offer institutional
grant programs
to support the conservation of apes and other wildlife.
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Conservation |
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Apes
need our help. "Catastrophic decline, precipitous loss, decimation"-
these are the words used to describe the current situation for apes
in the wild. Illegal hunting, habitat loss to mining, logging and
agricultural conversion, disease and the pet trade all threaten the
fragile existence of apes and their habitats. It is estimated that
some species of apes will be extinct in as little as one human generation
(20 years).
With
every day that passes, we are losing options for saving wild populations
of apes. A number of key activities are crucial for the long-term
survival of apes in the wild: anti-poaching patrols and law enforcement,
the presence of long-term field sites and researchers, effective
protected area management, and community involvement. More information,
such as data on ape densities and distributions, is also essential
to develop sustainable conservation programs.
What
Zoos are Doing for Conservation
To
be successful in conserving apes and their habitats, we must act
and increase funding for these activities now. Today, AZA accredited
zoos are moving to enhance their contribution to the conservation
of wild apes through the Ape
TAG Conservation Initiative.
They also contribute funds or expertise directly to
field projects and offer small grants
to conservation organizations.
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Issues |
The
following table illustrates the major threats to the survival of
wild ape populations.
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Gorillas
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Chimpanzees
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Bonobos
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Orangutans
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Gibbons/
Siamangs
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Conservation
Status |
Western
gorillas are critically endangered; eastern gorillas are endangered.
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Endangered
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Endangered
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Sumatran
orangutans are critically endangered; Bornean orangutans are endangered.
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Species
vary from vulnerable to critically endangered.
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Deforestation |
X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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Disease |
X
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X
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X
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X
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-
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Poaching/
Bushmeat |
X
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X
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X
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-
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X
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Pets/
Entertainment Industry |
-
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X
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-
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X
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X
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Political
Unrest |
X
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X
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X
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-
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X
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Deforestation |
All
apes are forest species and, consequently, are dependent on this type
of habitat for survival. Human encroachment on forests can have devastating
repercussions for ape populations. Forests are being cut down for
a variety of reasons, including subsistence agriculture, commercial
cultivation, and logging. In particular, clear cutting for palm oil
plantations is dramatically affecting orangutan populations. Access
roads built to support these industries facilitate travel to and use
of formerly remote, inaccessible habitats. |
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Disease |
Zoonotic
diseases are illnesses that can be transmitted between animals and
humans. Apes and humans share many zoonotic diseases, and the risk
of transmission increases as human encroachment on ape habitat increases.
These diseases can decimate ape populations and can be devastating
for humans as well. The Ebola virus is an excellent example. It is
extremely lethal in both apes and humans and has resulted in 95% mortality
in some gorilla populations in central Africa. |
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Poaching
and Bushmeat |
In
many parts of the world, people are dependent on hunting for their
protein. Hunting bushmeat-apes and other forest animals-has been
a sustainable part of human history for thousands of years. Increased
demand, growing poverty, and greater access to remote areas has
led to an explosion of illegal commercial hunting and a subsequent
significant population decline for many species. Apes are often
victims of this illegal hunting and may be specifically targeted
due to their large size.
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Pets
and the Entertainment Industry |
It
is not unusual to see apes in movies, advertisements, and television.
Such use raises serious welfare concerns for the animals involved
and promotes the perception that apes make good pets. Featuring
apes in entertainment may also undermine serious conservation issues
by giving the impression that apes thrive with human companionship
and that current ape populations are robust.
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