Year after year populations of wild apes disappear across Africa due to increased habitat fragmentation, the commercial bushmeat trade and disease. One or all of these problems may threaten a given population. Lincoln Park Zoo scientists work with various partners on projects throughout Africa to help conserve wild apes. The zoo also supports young African scientists who lead conservation projects for chimpanzees, lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas. This helps groom a new generation of researchers as environmental decision-makers and strengthens conservation leadership in the countries where great apes live.

Gombe Health Monitoring
Zoo scientists, in cooperation with the Jane Goodall Insitute (JGI) and Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), are conducting a baseline health-monitoring study of chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe National Park. This study includes observational health data collection and fecal and urine sampling for diagnoses. By developing baseline measures of health in the population, scientists can help park managers decide when and if to take action to treat a sick chimpanzee. In addition, zoo staff and JGI investigate ways to prevent transmission of disease between humans and chimpanzees.

Ape Conservation Database
Although public concern for ape conservation is growing, no central clearinghouse previously existed for information about conservation projects and research sites. To help fill this gap, Lincoln Park Zoo designed and maintains a comprehensive Ape Conservation Database that organizes data on everything from scientific research projects to surveys of ape habitats.

Goualougo Triangle Chimp Project
The main goals of the Goualougo Triangle Chimpanzee Project are to enhance our knowledge of the central subspecies of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) and improve their conservation status throughout central Africa. A long-term site-based conservation and research program is in place to document the social structure and ecology of this ape population, monitori the densities of chimpanzees and gorillas in the Goualougo Triangle, improve survey methods to estimate ape abundance in the region and document the effect of timber exploitation on chimpanzees residing in an active logging concession.

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Director of the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Elizabeth Vinson Lonsdorf (left), Dominic Travis (center) and Eric Lonsdorf (right) at Gombe National Park.

Tanzanian master's student Jared Bakuza (left) oversees the health-monitoring project at Gombe. The zoo’s veterinary technician, Joel Pond, inspects a field lab that has been set up by Bakuza with funding from Lincoln Park Zoo.