Learning About Chimpanzees
and Other Great Apes
The Wolfgang Khler Primate Research Center is a project of the Max Planck
Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. It conducts research on four species
of great ape, including a special focus on the ontogeny of chimpanzee
cognition. The research is done in collaboration with the Leipzig Zoo and
supports efforts to conserve great apes in the wild and in captivity.
The
3chimps Hominoid Psychology Research Group compares the psychology of hominoids with the goal
of identifying which features of our social problem-solving abilities have
evolved since humans, bonobos and chimpanzees shared a common ancestor.
Chimpanzee AI
is a part of the Primate Research
Institute of Kyoto University, Japan. The Primate Research Institute
specializes in exploring chimpanzees through cognitive tests, which aim to shed
light on chimpanzee learning and memory abilities.
The
Living Links Center is an integrated part of the Yerkes National Primate
Research Center. The Living Links CenterÕs primary mission is to study human
evolution by investigating our close genetic, anatomical, cognitive, and
behavioral similarities with great apes.
Chimpanzee
Cultures is an online database that describes the cultural
variations in chimpanzee behavior and shows behavior distributions across the
long-term study sites in Africa.
The Great Ape Trust of Iowa is a
research center dedicated to providing sanctuary and an honorable life for
great apes, studying their intelligence, advancing conservation, and providing
unique educational experiences.
The
First 100 Chimpanzees
is a detailed memorial for the
first 100 captive chimpanzees used for research in the United States. This site
is a product of the WhoÕs Looking
projectÕs director Lori GruenÕs research for her forthcoming book on human
relations to captive chimpanzees.
Central
Washington UniversityÕs Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute is a
sanctuary for a family of chimpanzees who have acquired the signs of American
Sign Language and use those signs in conversations with each other and their
human companions.
Wild Apes
In Defense of
Animals – Africa
is a Cameroon nonprofit
organization that serves to legally protect great apes from threats such as the
bushmeat trade, inhumane captivity and other abuses. They rescue and provide sanctuary for chimpanzees who have
fallen victim to human abuse.
The Jane Goodall InstituteÕs Africa programs aim
to ensure the long-term protection of wild ape populations and their habitat in
natural host countries in Africa through research and training, capacity
building, community development, and cooperative Community-Centered
Conservation.
The Great
Ape Survival Project Partnership is a project of the
United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization intending to lift the threat of imminent
extinction faced by gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans across their
ranges in Africa and south-east Asia.
Chimpanzee World
is a part of the Primate Research
Institute of Kyoto University, Japan. It presents information on captive
chimpanzees in Japan and conservation efforts for their waning wild populations
in Africa.
Friends
of Bonobos is an organization geared at protecting the bonobo
population in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its main effort is Lola ya
Bonobo, a sanctuary for bonobos just outside of Kinshasa, the capital of the
DRC.
Ngamba
Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
cares for the rescued chimpanzees
within Uganda. In addition to providing safe homes and welfare, they also care
for the environment on Ngamba Island, provide educational experiences for
visitors and benefit the island local communities.
The International
Primate Protection League
was founded in 1973 and has been
working continuously for the well-being of primates. IPPL works to ban or
restrict primate trade and to establish programs to protect primate
habitat. They also provide
sanctuary for unwanted gibbons.
Orangutan
Foundation International
works to study and conserve one of
the most endangered of the great apes – the orangutan. The foundation
supports conservation of their wild rain forest habitat in Indonesia while also
caring for ex-captive individuals as they return to the forest.
The Dian
Fossey Gorilla Fund is dedicated to the conservation of gorillas and
their habitats in Africa through anti-poaching, regular monitoring, research,
education and support of local communities – continuing the ideals and
vision of Dr. Dian Fossey.
Captive Chimpanzees
Chimp Haven,
Inc. is an independent, nonprofit sanctuary whose mission
is to provide lifetime care for chimpanzees no longer used for medical
research, as pets or entertainers. Chimp Haven also provides educational
programs to students of all ages.
Chimps, Inc. is a
nonprofit sanctuary that provides a permanent, enriched
home for 8 chimpanzees and two big cats.
The Center
for Great ApesÕ provides a sanctuary in a safe and enriching
environment for orangutans and chimpanzees in need of permanent lifetime care.
It is also a resource center for primatologists, zoologists, anthropologists,
as well for students and for public education programs.
The
Fauna Foundation is a nonprofit sanctuary that works to protect
QuebecÕs natural flora and fauna, including providing a better life for many
different species, including chimpanzees, that have been neglected, abused or
rejected by the humans who
use them.
Save the
Chimps aims to create a sanctuary where rescued chimpanzees
can live out their lives without the threat of returning to a laboratory. The
sanctuary exists in Ft. Pierce, Florida where once lab chimpanzees can now live
in social groups.
The Chimpanzee Survival Plan serves
39 zoos across the United States to help guide the management of their
chimpanzee populations. The Survival Plan is ultimately interested in the
health and wellbeing of ALL chimpanzees, inside and outside of accredited zoos.
