There are 6 species of great apes currently living: bonobos, chimpanzees, 2 species of gorillas, and 2 species of orangutans…all of them are critically endangered
Poor and incomplete data (scientific information) makes predicting the number of great apes left in the wild almost impossible
The most serious threats to great ape populations are deforestation and habitat destruction, hunting, and disease
A large-scale study was conducted by the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology (a place that studies apes and evolution) on great ape conservation efforts in Africa over the past 20 years to see if conservation efforts have been effective
Through the study, scientists were able to identify effective strategies for ape conservation and identify problems and obstacles that prevent work from being successful
Ape conservation is difficult because of political problems in the countries where they live, lack of funding and support, and lack of law enforcement and habitat protection
Scientists believe that the best strategy for saving the great apes is to support long-term projects, continuing to work in areas where ape conservation work has already been done, and to increasing the amount of enforcement for laws and regulations protecting apes and their habitat
More financial support for conservation organizations is needed for conservation efforts to be successful
People can help by donating to conservation organizations, supporting conservation efforts, and spreading the word about why conservation is so important!
Want to learn more? Visit: http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0312-schulze_interview_greatapes.html