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      • Celebrating our closest cousin in the animal kingdom.

      • About World Chimpanzee Day

        In honor of humankind’s closest living relative, World Chimpanzee Day is a celebration of an extraordinary species: chimpanzees!

         

        On July 14th, we celebrate these remarkable beings and raise awareness about the vital need for worldwide participation in their welfare, protection, and conservation. July 14, 1960 is the day Dr. Jane Goodall first stepped foot in what is now Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, to study wild chimpanzees. Dr. Goodall called attention to the remarkable chimpanzee and to this day advocates on their behalf. With each of us making a difference, we can ensure a future for chimpanzees in the wild and in captivity.
         

        Today, we carry the torch. The founding organizations of World Chimpanzee Day aim to empower communities everywhere to take action on behalf of chimpanzees to ensure a secure and hopeful future for this magnificent species.
         

         

        Join us in celebrating World Chimpanzee Day on July 14!

         

      • Dr. Goodall Calls CHIMPANZEE ADVOCATES to join in to increase understanding and action on behalf of chimpanzees.

        Happy #WorldChimpanzeeDay! Today, and every day, join Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace to stand up for chimpanzees!
         

        Over 60 years ago, Jane shared insights about the wonderful world of wild chimpanzees, forever advancing our understanding of our closest living relatives, and ourselves. On this day, the anniversary of Jane’s remarkable research, we gather together with the founding organizations of World Chimpanzee Day - NGOs, companies, and individuals - to demonstrate that #ChimpanzeesLikeUs deserve respect. Join us to take action on behalf of this remarkable, essential, and completely unique species. Together, we can improve understanding, protection, and welfare of our great ape cousins today and every day.

        Learn More
      • 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.

      • Honoring Steve Ross - A Hero for Chimpanzees

        World Chimpanzee Day was founded in 2018 by leaders in chimpanzee protection. One of those founders was primatologist Dr. Steve Ross, an energetic and compassionate chimpanzee specialist known for his expertise and his success in uniting various sectors in order to improve chimpanzee welfare. Dr. Ross passed away unexpectedly in April 2022.

         

        It's difficult to imagine the world of chimpanzee welfare without his important work. Dr. Ross was the Director of the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes at Lincoln Park Zoo, served on the Board of Directors of Chimp Haven, and was a trusted advisor to the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance, the Jane Goodall Institute, and sanctuaries across the globe. He led in-depth studies of captive chimpanzee populations, facilitated sanctuary placements for chimpanzees living in substandard living conditions, and advocated for all wild and captive chimps to be included on the Endangered Species List.


        Though our friend may be gone now, his work will live on through the thousands of chimpanzee lives he has impacted. The remaining members of the World Chimpanzee Day founding committee will miss our colleague and will stay inspired and dedicated to protect our closest relatives through the memory and life of Dr. Steve Ross.

         

        Photo: Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune

        In Remembrance

      • 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!

        Explore & Share Images
      • SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS

        SPREAD THE WORD!

        Download giphy at https://media.giphy.com/media/argm0JehakB2X64NgW/giphy.gif
      • 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.

      • Planning to Celebrate World Chimpanzee Day?

        Help Spread The Word

        Tell the world about why you are passionate about chimpanzees and your plans to celebrate the species this coming World Chimpanzee Day. Share this page on social media and use the hashtag #WorldChimpanzeeDay to join other leaders around the world in this very important action to raise awareness about our closest cousins in the animal kingdom and the global issues that are threatening their survival.

         

        Share on Facebook     Share on Twitter

      • Get Involved

        If you're joining the celebration of World Chimpanzee Day, check out these resources below to support your festivities.

        Logo

        Download the Logo:
        EPS (Vector) • PNG (Transparent) • JPG

        Flyer

        Download the Flyer

        Social Media Graphics

        Facebook Banner

        Download

        Feel free to download and add your logo to the graphics.

        https://user-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/243685/WCD-Facebook-Banner2_ck1n0z.jpg

        Download

        Educational Resources

        Enrichment Database

        Position Statements

        Educational Resources

        Kibale Chimpanzee Project
        Facemask Project

        Educator's Guide

        Online Course on Chimpanzee Behavior and Conservation | Duke University + Coursera

        Roots & Shoots Global Activities for World Chimpanzee Day.

      • Find an event Near You

        Check out the map below to find World Chimpanzee Day events in your community.

        Don't see an event in your community? Plan one of your own and share it on the global events map!

        Map Your Event

        Share your event on Facebook by adding the World Chimpanzee Day as an event co-host.

        View Events List
      • Connect With US

        Have a question? Want to share your events? Connect with World Chimpanzee Day on Facebook!

        World Chimpanzee Day on Facebook

      World Chimpanzee Day - Copyright 2018

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