Chimpanzees are in danger

Chimpanzees are in danger of disappearing. Experts say this species will disappear soon, and others within fifty years. They live in the wild in twenty-three countries in Africa and Asia. They are the closest relatives to humans.

Great apes share more than ninety-six percent of our genetic material. They stand upright, and hold things with hands like ours. Their ability to learn is of great interest to people.

Chimpanzees are the" gardeners" of the forest. Scientists say the future of the planet is linked to their survival. They help keep it healthy. If we lose these great apes, we destroy part of our humanity.

Experts say the western chimpanzee has already disappeared from Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Togo. In Ghana, the numbers are estimated between just three-hundred and five-hundred.

Human activities are the most serious threat to the great apes. Researchers say the two biggest problems are the destruction of forests and road building.  

Great apes live in environments that contain resources valuable to people. Things like trees, minerals and oil. Logging and mining camps bring new roads. Foreign demand for hardwood causes the logging industry to move deeper into forests.

Clearing forests makes it easier for hunters to find and kill apes. The U-N report notes that bushmeat is an important food to many people in west and central Africa. Some of the people also believe it has special powers of magic or medicine. In Africa and Asia, killing and selling apes can also provide extra money to villagers and workers in the forest.

Scientists say the bushmeat trade increases the risk that infectious diseases will spread from apes to humans. The U-N report notes that chimpanzees and gorillas can get influenza, tuberculosis, measles, mumps, even the common cold.

Chimpanzees are captured in large numbers. Chimpanzee products are sold in local markets. Trade in baby chimpanzees is widespread. Until recently, large numbers of chimpanzees were also used for medical research.

Experts say hunting is common. They say female chimpanzees are usually killed to steal their babies for sale as pets.