Future coexistence with great apes will require major changes to policy and practice

John C Mitani^{1

2}, Ekwoge Abwe^{3

4}, Genevieve Campbell⁵, Tamara Giles-Vernick⁶, Tony Goldberg⁷, Matthew R McLennan^{8

9}, Signe Preuschoft¹⁰, Jatna Supriatna¹¹, Andrew J Marshall^{12

13

14

15

16}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. mitani@umich.edu.
² Ngogo Chimpanzee Project, Phoenix, AZ, USA. mitani@umich.edu.
³ San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA, USA.
⁴ Cameroon Biodiversity Association, Douala, Cameroon.
⁵ Re:wild, Austin, TX, USA.
⁶ Anthropology and Ecology of Disease Emergence Unit, Institut Pasteur/Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
⁷ Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
⁸ Bulindi Chimpanzee and Community Project, Hoima, Uganda.
⁹ Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.
¹⁰ Ape Protection Unit, Four Paws, Hamburg, Germany.
¹¹ Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences, University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java, Indonesia.
¹² Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
¹³ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
¹⁴ Program in the Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
¹⁵ School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
¹⁶ Program in Computing for the Arts and Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

PMID: 38374442
DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01830-x

Review

Future coexistence with great apes will require major changes to policy and practice

John C Mitani et al. Nat Hum Behav. 2024 Apr.

. 2024 Apr;8(4):632-643.

doi: 10.1038/s41562-024-01830-x. Epub 2024 Feb 19.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. mitani@umich.edu.
² Ngogo Chimpanzee Project, Phoenix, AZ, USA. mitani@umich.edu.
³ San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA, USA.
⁴ Cameroon Biodiversity Association, Douala, Cameroon.
⁵ Re:wild, Austin, TX, USA.
⁶ Anthropology and Ecology of Disease Emergence Unit, Institut Pasteur/Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
⁷ Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
⁸ Bulindi Chimpanzee and Community Project, Hoima, Uganda.
⁹ Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.
¹⁰ Ape Protection Unit, Four Paws, Hamburg, Germany.
¹¹ Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences, University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java, Indonesia.
¹² Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
¹³ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
¹⁴ Program in the Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
¹⁵ School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
¹⁶ Program in Computing for the Arts and Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

PMID: 38374442
DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01830-x

Abstract

The great apes-bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans-are critically threatened by human activities. We have destroyed their habitats, hunted them and transmitted fatal diseases to them. Yet we also conduct research on them, try to protect them and live alongside them. They are endangered, and time is running out. Here we outline what must be done to ensure that future generations continue to share this planet with great apes. We urge dialogue with those who live with great apes and interact with them often. We advocate conservation plans that acknowledge the realities of climate change, economic drivers and population growth. We encourage researchers to use technology to minimize risks to great apes. Our proposals will require substantial investment, and we identify ways to generate these funds. We conclude with a discussion of how field researchers might alter their work to protect our closest living relatives more effectively.

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References

1. Paine, R. T. A note on trophic complexity and community stability. Am. Nat. 103, 91–93 (1969).
1. Tutin, C. E. G., Williamson, E. A., Rogers, M. E. & Fernandez, M. A case study of a plant-animal relationship: Cola lizae and lowland gorillas in the Lopé Reserve, Gabon. J. Trop. Ecol. 7, 181–199 (1991).
1. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Program. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis (Island Press, 2005).
1. Macfie, E. J. & Williamson, E. A. Best Practice Guidelines for Great Ape Tourism (IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, 2010).
1. Clucas, B., McHugh, K. & Caro, T. Flagship species on covers of US conservation and nature magazines. Biodivers. Conserv. 17, 1517–1528 (2008).

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Future coexistence with great apes will require major changes to policy and practice

Affiliations

Future coexistence with great apes will require major changes to policy and practice

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

References

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LinkOut - more resources

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