Celebrating our closest cousin in the animal kingdom.
- Background - Why WORLD CHIMPANZEE DAY
On July 14th, and every day, we celebrate this unique and vital species.
Just like us, like no other.
Goals of World Chimpanzee Day:
- Celebrate our closest living relative in the animal kingdom.
- Improve understanding by educating global audiences about their uniqueness and innate value as a species, as well as their importance to ecosystems.
- Raise awareness and inspire action about threats they face in the wild including habitat loss, disease, and wildlife trafficking, while also advocating for their welfare in captive situations.
Celebrating Chimpanzees
Through the groundbreaking research of Dr. Jane Goodall and the scientists who followed her, we now know so much more about the many behaviors, traits, and ecologies that make chimpanzees one-of-a-kind. Dr. Goodall was one of the first to share her observations that chimpanzees make and use tools, have a complex communication system and social structures, and can be altruistic. The more we learn, the more we realize how important it is that we celebrate our connection to these complex and intelligent beings.
Caring for Chimpanzees
Chimpanzees are kept in captivity in a variety of settings including biomedical research, the entertainment industry, as illegal “pets” or in roadside “zoos.” In these environments, they are deprived of essential physical, emotional, and especially social needs. This observance aims to educate the public and promote legislation to end these conditions, support facilities showcasing the best in captive welfare, and increase the welfare and rights of all chimpanzees.
Conserving Chimpanzees
Chimpanzees are highly endangered. One hundred years ago, there were an estimated 1-2 million chimpanzees across twenty-five countries in Africa. Today, there are as few as 350,000 wild (high estimate) chimpanzees across the continent of Africa. We must each do our part to turn those numbers around. Together, by providing holistic solutions to end habitat loss, illegal wildlife crime, and disease transmission, we can give chimpanzees a fighting chance.
- Celebrate our closest living relative in the animal kingdom.
Respect for Chimpanzees
Chimpanzees deserve respect and celebration! This year, we celebrate all the fascinating ways chimpanzees are so like us, and yet so special. Together, we can take action to increase understanding, protect wild endangered populations, and improve well-being for captive chimpanzees. Join us to elevate positive chimpanzee imagery, along with their stories, to increase understanding of chimpanzees and awareness of why accurate representation is vital in ending the illegal trade in great apes.
Jane GOODALL INSTITUTE CAMPAIGN:
chimpanzees take over the internet!
We're showing off all the incredible ways chimpanzees are, well, INCREDIBLE! Join us in flooding social media with positive images of our closest living relatives, and learning the difference between good and bad content online. Chimpanzees deserve respect - show the world what that looks like!
SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS
SPREAD THE WORD!
- Partners
Around the globe, so many partners have committed to celebrating World Chimpanzee Day.
Interested in becoming a World Chimpanzee Day partner?
Click here to share your interest and join our list of supporters from around the globe. - Get InvolvedIf you're joining the celebration of World Chimpanzee Day, check out these resources below to support your festivities.
Social Media Graphics
Educational Resources
Connect With US
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