Conservationists celebrate World Chimpanzee Day
Jul 14, 2019
The Chimpanzee day was introduced by Dr. Jane Goodall last year 2018, as a way to emphasize the need to conserve these closest human cousins.
WAKISO - Several conservation groups have joined the international community to celebrate the 2nd World Chimpanzee Day.
"World Chimpanzee Day is a celebration of Chimpanzees and an opportunity to raise awareness about vital needs of worldwide participation in their care, protection, and conservation while in the wild and captivity," remarked Dorothy Basemera the guest relations officer at Chimpanzee Trust that looks after 49 orphaned Chimps at Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria.
"We're going visit Bagumirabingi Forest, one of the Chimpanzee corridors and Bugoma central forest reserve which has been affected by deforestation, habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict," noted Dr. Joshua Rukundo, the acting executive director for Chimpanzee Trust.
Rukundo added that conservationists and media people will plant trees to restore the Chimpanzee habitats along Bugoma central forest reserve, and also visit the neighbouring villages to assess and publicise the status of Chimpanzees.
Lilly Ajarova, the CEO for Uganda Tourism Board feeding a Chimp at Ngamba sanctuary
This year's international goals for Chimpanzee day include; sharing an understanding and inspiration by educating global audiences about Chimpanzee's importance and similarities to humans. It also aims at raising awareness about the threats they face in the wild including habitat loss, diseases, and trafficking. "We, therefore, wish to celebrate our closest living relatives in the animal kingdom as well as promote their proper care in captive situations," implored Rukundo.
About Chimpanzee Day
The Chimpanzee day was introduced by Dr. Jane Goodall last year 2018, as a way to emphasize the need to conserve these closest human cousins. July 14, 1960, is the day Dr. Goodall first stepped foot in what is now Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, to study wild chimpanzees.
Through Goodall's groundbreaking research and the scientists who followed her, it was brought to light, the behaviour humans share with chimps, including tool making and use, communication, complex social structures, and altruism, among many others.