Author: Brittany Cohen-Brown

The Jane Goodall Institute’s Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center in the Republic of the Congo was established in 1992, and since then has provided life-saving treatment and sanctuary to hundreds of chimpanzees. Once our Tchimpounga sanctuary opened, JGI quickly realized that many of the chimpanzees in need of rescue were victims of illegal wildlife trafficking…and that Tchimpounga would soon be overrun with chimpanzees, causing our resources to be stretched very thin, if we didn’t do something to curb this cruel practice. One of the most important lessons the Jane Goodall Institute has learned during the nearly four decades that we have…

Endangered Species Day is on its way! Falling on Friday, May 20, Endangered Species day is a time people should focus on learning about endangered animal populations, the threats that they are facing, and what we can do to help! To get our supporters talking about this special day, the Jane Goodall Institute has collected several stories about different endangered species. Grizzly Bears: They Still Need to be Protected North American grizzly bears were once hunted to near extinction. Thanks to protections provided under the Endangered Species Act, their populations have been allowed to recover, though they have not yet…

Last year, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service ruled that all chimpanzees, wild and captive, will be classified as endangered. This was a departure from their previous ruling, which only listed wild chimpanzees as endangered. Captive chimpanzees in the US enjoyed no such protection, and could legally be subjected to lonely, painful lives as invasive research subjects and entertainers. The new ruling from the Service makes it much more difficult to keep chimpanzees in such horrific conditions, and was a decision lauded by Dr. Goodall. After the ruling, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) subsequently decided to retire all…

Mother’s Day is only a few days away, and the Jane Goodall Institute is celebrating mothers everywhere, human and chimpanzee alike! As with human babies, chimpanzee babies are totally dependent on their mother for the first years of life. They rely on their moms for food and for transport, and aren’t weaned until they are about five years old. Even then, chimpanzee youngsters tend to stick by their mother’s side for several more years and in some cases their entire lives. For Dr. Jane Goodall, observing chimpanzee mothers care for their young was fascinating . As with people, each chimpanzee…

Forests provide billions of humans and animals with shelter and food. They clean the air we that we breathe and provide us with an amazing array of resources, from fuel to medicine. Today on Arbor Day, the Jane Goodall Institute and people all over the world will reflect on the state of forests and trees in our planet, and find ways to help curb the rapid and destructive deforestation that is found all over the globe. Deforestation in the Congo Basin is one of the biggest threats facing chimpanzees today, and could be leading to their extinction. Logging and mining operations…

Dr. Jane Goodall’s 82nd birthday is on April 3 … only a few days away! If you would like to join the Jane Goodall Institute in celebrating Dr. Goodall, here are three ways that you can get involved: Sign Jane’s birthday e-card…simply click here to add your name and a special message to Jane to our global e-card. Jane will receive your message on her birthday. Or, if you would like to send Jane a paper card, print off the image above then fold it hot dog style (long ways), and then hamburger style (short ways). Include a special message…

As one of humanity’s closest living relatives, chimpanzees give us an amazing insight into our own lives and history. This is one reason why fascinating studies focused on chimpanzees continue to be published year after year. Below is a roundup of scientific articles that have been published recently. Electrocardiogram reference intervals for clinically normal wild-born chimpanzees… As with humans, heart disease is a health issue common in chimpanzees. In fact, it is a leading cause of death in captive chimpanzees. Recently, a study that looked at heart disease in captive chimps was undertaken by Rebeca Atencia, the Jane Goodall Institute’s Executive Director…

Did you know that there are offices of the Jane Goodall Institute found in many countries throughout the world? In North America, South America, Asia, Europe and Africa, we have people all over the planet working for a better future for people, animals and the environment. However, none of this amazing work could be done without our network of supporters. People like you make it possible for the Jane Goodall Institute to carry on our conservation work, keep the Tchimpounga sanctuary running, and continue shaping the next generation of conservation leaders. To show our gratitude for everything that you have…

Everyone seems to be getting into the holiday spirit as we get closer and closer to the new year, and Tchimpounga’s chimpanzees are no exception! Young chimpanzees absolutely love fresh fruit and bottles of milk, so staff at our Tchimpounga sanctuary in the Republic of Congo decided to have a bit of holiday fun and give these items to the sanctuary’s youngest chimpanzees as gifts. As you will see in the video, that chimpanzees were very intrigued by the crinkly wrapping paper and shiny long ribbons … some seemed to be more interested in the boxes themselves rather than what…

The Jane Goodall Institute’s Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center is home to over 150 chimpanzees. Many of these chimpanzees were orphaned when they were very young by poachers, who will often kill chimpanzee mothers for the illegal bushmeat trade and then sell her offspring, illegally, as exotic pets. To learn about life at Tchimpounga, and about the hard work that the team at Tchimpounga carries out every day to make sure that these rescued chimpanzees have a happy and healthy life, please watch the above video. Every chimpanzee that the Jane Goodall Institute takes in at our Tchimpounga sanctuary requires a lifetime…