EAZA Conservation Campaigns

The EAZA Ape Campaign was launched in September 2010 with the overarching aim of making a significant and lasting contribution to the continued survival of apes and their habitats.

Apes (the six species of great ape and 16 species of gibbons) are under threat from hunting, deforestation and disease. Without our support these beautiful and iconic animals will become extinct. All the apes are threatened and almost all are classed as either Endangered or Critically Endangered.

For some species really urgent action is needed. The Hainan gibbon, for instance, is right on the brink of extinction with fewer than 20 surviving, while there are fewer than 400 Cross River gorillas left in the wild. The EAZA Ape Campaign focuses attention on the apes, the issues they face and the urgency with which we must act. Through the support of the EAZA membership and the campaign partners the EAZA Ape Campaign works to improve their survival and leave a lasting legacy for ape conservation.

The EAZA Ape campaign had four objectives:

To increase habitat protection and reduce habitat loss
To reduce hunting and trade of apes, both live and dead
To change consumer behavior to reduce pressure on apes and their habitats
To raise €1 million to establish a lasting fund providing ongoing financial support to ape conservation

The campaign covers all ape species; great apes and gibbons.

Key Achievements

180 participating institutions, the majority of which were EAZA members
Over €535.000 collected for great ape conservation projects

Project supported

Through the support of EAZA members the EAZA Ape Conservation Fund has been established. The fund focuses attention on the apes, the issues they face and the urgency with which we must act.

The EAZA Ape Conservation Fund transferred funds (€130.000 in total) to the following pre-selected campaign projects:

Awely’s Green Caps of the DRC (Update September 2012)

Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Programme (Update September 2012)

Dja Biosphere Reserve project (Update September 2012)

Cao Vit gibbon conservation project (Update September 2012)

EAZA Ape Conservation Fund

The first EAZA Ape Conservation Fund application round has been closed. 9 projects have been awarded with a grant. For an overview of the awarded projects please visit EAZA Ape Conservation Fund. A second application round will open up in April 2013. Details will follow.

For more information regarding the EAZA Ape Campaign please visit: www.apecampaign.org