Chimpanzee Conservation
Chimpanzees and bonobos are human’s closest living relative. They display very human-like behaviours and are even able to use and manipulate tools.
Chimpanzees are one of the Great Apes. The species was catapulted into the spotlight by Dr Jane Goodall throughout her lifelong studies of East African chimpanzees in Tanzania.
The illegal wildlife trade is one of the biggest threats to chimpanzees. Chimps are now listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List with an estimated remaining population of between 170,000 to 300,000 left in the wild across 21 African states.
Infant chimps are often captured for the exotic pet trade and the devastating reality of these captures is that for every individual infant taken, poachers will typically slaughter 10 chimpanzees to stop the protective adults interfering in the capture.
By donating to David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) you are helping to save chimpanzees from extinction.
Or
Help by adopting a chimpanzee today.
One chimpanzee is stolen from the wild and trafficked into the illegal wildlife trade every four hours

Image Credit: Josh Iremonger

Image Credit: Rebecca Ney
Protecting West African chimpanzees
David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) works with ground-based conservation partners the Chimpanzee Conservation Center (CCC) in Guinea, who provide vital rescue, rehabilitation and release programmes for illegally trafficked chimps.
They also lead educational initiatives attempting to reduce the local demand and raise awareness about the serious consequences of the illegal wildlife trade. Educators communicate the strict legal repercussions of wildlife crime, and the importance of conservation to aid the protection of this incredible species.
Adopting a holistic approach to conservation, DSWF fights, protects and engages on behalf of chimpanzees and other endangered species.
Find out more about how DSWF is working to protect West African chimpanzees.
“People lie at the heart of the poaching crisis, be it as consumers or as a part of the poaching cycle and yet people are also the hope and solution to resolve it”.
Georgina Lamb, Chief Executive at David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation
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Why are chimpanzees endangered?
Find out moreHabitat encroachment, poaching and disease are putting our closest living relatives on a trajectory to extinction.
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Chimpanzee trade
Learn moreIn the last six years, over 14,000 chimpanzees have been lost to the illegal wildlife trade. Read more about the abhorrent crime here.
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Learn more about chimpanzees
Chimpanzee factsChimpanzees are native to Africa and can be found in 21 different African countries. Learn more about the different types of chimpanzees.
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Protecting chimpanzees
Learn moreDSWF is working to protect chimpanzees in Guinea. We support educational initiatives to end the illegal pet trade.