Protecting one of man's best friends

Chimpanzees share 98% of their genetic material with humans. They communicate with us, play with us, express their feelings.

Yet sadly, the numbers of chimpanzees are in decline.

Jane Goodall, one of the world’s leading experts on primates, is supporting WTM’s World Responsible Tourism Day. Through The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), she has pioneered the study of chimpanzees, revolutionising how we think about these most lovable of animals.

Her work on primates begun 40 years ago, but today Jane combines her scientific work with international advocacy on behalf of both the chimps and the environment.

 “Chimpanzees are our closest relatives in the animal kingdom” she says. “They are highly intelligent, social apes, found only in Africa.

“But while the number of human beings inhabiting the planet continue to grow, chimpanzee numbers are falling.”

They are threatened by hunting, loss of forests and illegal capture. Many are still forced to lead miserable lives in squalid zoos or are kept confined in laboratories, the subjects of invasive medical experiments.

Jane and her team are working to prevent their extinction, through conservation, research and education.

But she is also doing much to help the crucial cause of responsible tourism.
For example, she has founded Ecotravellers, a non profit making programme in Spain to sensitize tourists visiting fragile areas in Africa.

Working with local communities, they are not only developing an ecotourism product, but also putting in place measures to prevent environmental and cultural footprint. They also encourage tourists to commit to extending their holiday and carrying out a task within the framework of a particular project.

“Itineraries become projects in themselves”, said Goodall, “improving environmental, social and economic aspects and quality of ecotourism products to guarantee financial security and sustainability.”