African Great Apes programme

About the African Great Apes programme

Africa's great apes face extinction in the next few decades if more is not done to conserve them. All four species - the chimpanzee, Bonobo, western gorilla, and eastern gorilla - are threatened primarily by hunting and habitat loss, but they also have to contend with diseases such as Ebola and conflict with people living alongside them.


Urgent action is required to develop the capacity of African countries for conservation, improve the effectiveness of protected areas, stop the illegal trade in ape products, and increase people's support for ape conservation.

In 2002, WWF launched a programme to respond to the threats facing Africa's great apes. Building on more than 40 years of experience in great ape conservation, WWF’s initiative aims to provide strategic field interventions to help guarantee a future for these threatened species.

The long-term goal of the African Great Apes programme is the conservation of viable populations of all species and subspecies of African great apes. Find out more about our programme, and the spectacular animals we're working to save!