GRASP will release the report, “Stolen Apes: The Illicit Trade in Chimpanzees, Gorilla, Bonobos and Orangutans,” on March 4 at the CITES meeting in Bangkok. The Rapid Response Assessment (RRA) report is the first to gauge the scale and scope of the global trade in great apes. http://on.fb.me/Y1PjZj
Do scientists and researchers actually deter poaching and deforestation? A new study by the James Cook University in Australia, “Does research help to safeguard protected areas?,” said there is no definitive evidence one way or the other. For more, visit http://bit.ly/Y5UdHE. http://on.fb.me/12cQEoB
Great Ape Moment: Chimpanzees http://on.fb.me/XhQ5Eq
The Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in DR Congo received 20,293 visitors in 2011, the majority of whom were schoolchildren that learned how they can help protect bonobos and the country’s natural heritage. For more, visit www.friendsofbonobos.org. http://on.fb.me/Wbtyfswww.friendsofbonobos.org. http://on.fb.me/Wbtyfs
A new study published in the American Journal of Primatology shows that chimpanzees derive the same joy from solving tricky puzzles that humans do when completing crosswords or sudokus. Scientists set up a challenge for 6 chimpanzees at the London’s Whipsnade Zoo, who enthusiastically carried out their tasks whether they earned a reward or not. For more, visit http://bit.ly/15edbPq. http://on.fb.me/ZDUfu8
Great Ape Moment: Western lowland gorilla
http://bit.ly/YtV1XW http://on.fb.me/WlSxak
An Asian Correspondent article underscores the grave conservation crisis facing orangutans, and states: “The palm oil, paper and timber industries in Indonesia are killing orangutans – literally driving the species into extinction.” For more, visit http://bit.ly/1397sMN. http://on.fb.me/YQORPD
A U.N .-mediated peace deal aimed at ending 20 years of conflict in eastern DR Congo has been signed by leaders of Africa’s Great Lakes region in Addis Ababa. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and leaders from Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, Congo, Tanzania, South Africa, DR Congo, and South Sudan were present at the signing of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes. For more, visit http://yhoo.it/YnA7b8. http://on.fb.me/123EKgz
Massive expansion of the oil palm industry that already “wreaked havoc” on Southeast Asia is now threatening the Congo Basin, according to a report issued by the Rainforest Foundation UK. Half a million hectares of palm oil projects are getting underway in the region, which threatens the habitat of chimpanzees, gorillas and bonobos. For more, visit http://bit.ly/WgMlAu. http://on.fb.me/VWTqvs
Great Ape Moment: Orangutan family in Sumatra http://on.fb.me/15Asfbr
A recent China Central Television (CCTV) segment of “Faces of Africa” profiles of Ugandan gorilla scientists Dr. Gladys Kalema. For more, visit http://bit.ly/15Asfbe. http://on.fb.me/WYviW5
The popular DisneyNature film, “Chimpanzee” — which grossed over USD $30 million in its domestic release — opened this week in France as “Chimpanzés.” For more, visit http://bit.ly/XzYEtV. http://on.fb.me/11X0yuh
The ongoing saga of 4 chimpanzees that must be relocated from a private owner in Las Vegas, USA, is coming down to the wire; the deadline for transfer is next week, and owner Mike Casey – who lacks proper permits for the chimpanzees, including 7-year old Kenzy (pictured here) – is running out of options. For more, visit http://bit.ly/VxJ6aH. http://on.fb.me/YCSPLB
An infant male orangutan that was being held illegally at a palm oil plantation in Ache has been rescued by the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP), which found him extremely weak and dehydrated. Local fishermen had attacked the infant’s mother with sticks in the hope of capturing the baby to re-sell as a pet. For more, visit http://bit.ly/UJ0aLD. http://on.fb.me/ZhpzuT
Chimp Haven in Louisiana, USA, has welcomed 8 more chimpanzees retired from biomedical research into permanent retirement, including two 52-year olds – Julius and Sandy – and 46-year old Phyliis (pictured here). None of the chimpanzees had ever seen the unobstructed sky until reaching Chimp Haven . For more, visit http://n.pr/Zr93fC. http://on.fb.me/XvqpUt
East Africa leads ape tourism globally…Readmore http://bit.ly/Vsv0Hs http://on.fb.me/136YomO
Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) at the Virunga national park in Tongo forest, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Photograph: Alamy http://on.fb.me/VqtHcf
The North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA) has hired longtime chimpanzee activist Sarah Baeckler as its new director. Baeckler, who helped establish the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest in Washington, will oversee the NAPSA’s day-to-day operations and relations with its 7 sanctuary members. For more, visit http://on.fb.me/14WCSE1 http://on.fb.me/Zfog36
The illegal trade in great apes is a growing problem across Asia, including Thailand, where 11 confiscated orangutans are being cared for at the Khao Phrathap wildlife breeding centre in the central province of Ratchaburi. For more, visit http://bit.ly/XCM5vc. http://on.fb.me/15h6FbQ
A study on former laboratory chimpanzees at the AAP sanctuary in The Netherlands reveals that anti-depressant drugs can be used to ease their traumas, depression and behavioral problems. Researchers say that the treatment should be considered for hundreds of other chimps that have been used in bio-medical research. For more, visit http://bbc.in/WrWZGz. http://on.fb.me/ZeCcug
International media coverage of the recent rescue of an infant bonobo in DR Congo — and growing illegal trade in great apes — continues: http://bit.ly/X6qT3a http://on.fb.me/X6qSwd
Happy Valentine’s Day http://on.fb.me/11HUpBW
Gorilla trackers in Rwanda are closely monitoring the activity of Bishushwe, an adult female, who has taken the highly unusual and dangerous step of traveling alone with her 1-year old infant, Amatwara, since the death of her group’s dominant silverback (Urugamaba) earlier this year. Bishushwe was particularly close to Urugamaba, and visits the site of his death every single day. For more, visit http://bit.ly/ODvSVl. http://on.fb.me/YWsXLo
GRASP ambassador Dr. Jane Goodall believes climate change and environmental degradation are terrible legacies to leave future generations. “We’ve just been stealing, stealing, stealing from our children, and it’s shocking,” she said. For more, visit http://bit.ly/UcXIgi. http://on.fb.me/XJucwH
Students in Borneo have rescued a female orangutan that was being kept illegally as a pet by a local family after its forest home was converted into an oil palm plantation. The orangutan – who is estimated to be three years of age – was found in a cage, but was otherwise in good condition. She will be transferred to the Samboja Lestari rehabilitation centre, where it is hoped she might ultimately return to the wild. For more, visit http://bit.ly/WI292P http://on.fb.me/12w6e9d
Like humans, bonobos show signs of empathy and the desire to console family and friends early in life.Read full story http://bit.ly/11BRqez http://on.fb.me/12I2Bl6
A Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader opinion article written by Primate Rescue Center director April Truitt lauds the retirement of laboratory chimpanzees in the U.S., but warns that the current sanctuary system lacks the funding and the facilities to handle an influx of nearly 1,000 chimpanzees. For more, visit http://bit.ly/14LveMA. http://on.fb.me/12DIaWx
Preliminary results from the Orangutan Foundation’s survey of the Belantikan forests that span West and Central Kalimantan in Borneo indicate the wild population is decreasing. For more, visit http://bit.ly/V5gNjH http://on.fb.me/XtTNYo
This week’s London launch of the children’s book, “King Bruno,” included some familiar faces: Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary director Bala Amarasekaran, Dr. Jane Goodall, and author Paul Glynn. For more, visit http://on.fb.me/V3hj1J. http://on.fb.me/YeYyFS
The Born Free Foundation and the Bonobo Conservation Initiative teamed up this week to rescue an infant bonobo being kept by a family in Boma, DR Congo. “Mireille,” who is approximately 18 months old, was taken to the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in Kinshasa, where she will be given permanent care. For more, visit http://bit.ly/12y7tJj. http://on.fb.me/XVfr9H
Nature’s Path “EnviroKidz Gorilla Munch” cereal has created a new box design, but still supports the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International’s efforts to save Mountain gorillas. Tastes great with milk! For more, visit http://bit.ly/WR6ccy http://on.fb.me/XS85E4
Great Ape Moment :BLISS, A six-day-old baby orangutan snuggles up.Picture by EPA/ROLAND WEIHRAUCH http://on.fb.me/TOXtb7
3D Gorilla Chief: Meet Czech artist Jiri Adamec, he reveals how he created this image of a magnificent gorilla all in 3D.
http://bit.ly/TNXvQi http://on.fb.me/V04Rj7
Billionaire Donald Trump is suing comedian Bill Maher for USD 5 million for joking that Trump was possibly “the spawn of his mother having sex with an orangutan.” For more, visit http://bit.ly/VU2IEK. http://on.fb.me/Uy217g
Although apes are often terrified of snakes, that is not the case at the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in DR Congo. When a tree snake entered one of the enclosures, Muanda, an adult female, apparently killed the snake, then played with it, slept with it, and wore it as a necklace for hours. For more, visit http://bit.ly/Ux5hQk. http://on.fb.me/VTmal8
Indonesia plans to build a new orangutan rehabilitation facility capable of holding up to 50 orangutans adjacent to Samboja Lestari in East Kalimantan. Novianto Bambang, the Forestry Ministry’s director of biodiversity conservation, said the new center will open later this year. For more, visit http://bit.ly/Y77tsS. http://on.fb.me/UrpN4E
A new study suggests that chimpanzee “culture” meets a basic requirement: The ability to learn new behaviors from one another, and to pass them down through generations. The study by Japanese and English researchers used juice boxes and soft straws. For more, visit http://lat.ms/WWEaMt. http://on.fb.me/Y6UZBG
“King Bruno,” a new children’s book that tells the true story of Bruno, a male chimpanzee at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone, will be celebrated with a release party at the Barbican in London on Wednesday, Feb. 6. GRASP ambassador Dr. Jane Goodall, author Paul Glynn, and novelist Aminatta Forna will be in attendance. For tickets, email to info@tacugama.com or call +44 (0)7885032461 or +44 (0)2079232078. http://on.fb.me/X9e1s4
The transfer of orphaned gorillas to a larger enclosure at the Ape Action Sanctuary in Cameroon — and the tireless efforts of director Rachel Hogan and her staff — are chronicled in the video-book, “Rachel’s Promise,” by Jo-Anne MacArthur. To view, visit http://bit.ly/VumiFC http://on.fb.me/WEBS50
The Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda offers limited luxury tented camp accommodation and special off-season rates at the Lake Victoria site. For more information, visit http://conta.cc/Wjrikj http://on.fb.me/14uV8nG
Great Ape Moment: Wattana and baby Kawan on a sunny day. Photo by Jean Kern http://on.fb.me/W5BZVK
