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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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The
AZA Ape TAG Conservation Initiative
serves to coordinate efforts among AZA zoos to protect wild apes. |
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Many
zoos also
offer institutional grant programs to support the conservation of apes and other wildlife. |
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Read
a statement from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) regarding
the use
of apes in media and commercial performances.
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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. |
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| Issues |
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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 |
| 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. |  |
| 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. | |
| Poaching and Bushmeat | |
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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 | |
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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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