Wellington Zoo helping to save Chimpanzees in Senegal

Wellington Zoo helping to save Chimpanzees in Senegal

Wellington Zoo Primate Keeper Esta Wilson-Burke is heading to Senegal for a month to work with the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) to save endangered wild chimpanzees with support from the Wellington Zoo Conservation Fund.

Esta will be joining JGI’s research team in the Kedougou region, led by primatologist Liliana Pacheco, to collect behavioural and ecological data to help discover the different challenges and opportunities facing the endangered apes.

“Working alongside wild Chimpanzees has always been a dream of mine and I am really excited to work with the incredible JGI team in Senegal,” says Esta. “I’ve been inspired by Dr Jane Goodall DBE, who I was lucky enough to meet in 2014 when she visited Wellington Zoo. JGI is carrying out crucial research work to ensure the survival of the remaining Chimpanzee population in the region and towards great ape conservation as a whole. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity from the Wellington Zoo Conservation Fund to get involved in helping save Chimpanzees in the wild.”

Esta will work across three different sites during her month-long trip. While based in Nandoumary, she will help identify how Chimpanzees use the forest and whether they use ecological corridors to come into contact with Chimpanzee communities in Guinea. She will also work in Segou and Dindifelo, taking part in direct observations of Chimpanzee behaviours to help inform research and development of eco-tourism initiatives.

“I love working with our amazing Chimpanzee community at Wellington Zoo, which is the second largest group in Australasia. They are social ,complex and fascinating to care for. They are also one of our visitors’ favourite animals. I can’t wait to get back to Wellington and share what I learn about the Chimps in Senegal with our great Zoo community,” says Esta.

“Chimpanzees are disappearing in Senegal due to the loss and degradation of their habitat from human activities, like deforestation,” says Wellington Zoo Conservation Manager and JGI NZ Board member, Daniela Biaggio. “The latest census showed only about 200 – 500 Western Chimpanzees are left in Senegal, and their range throughout West Africa has decreased severely over the last few decades. At Wellington Zoo we know how important it is to save this extraordinary species and we are proud to be a part of that effort.” ”

“The Wellington Zoo Conservation Fund supports the Zoo’s goal of saving animals in the wild – with funds going towards more than 10 conservation projects regionally and internationally,” says Daniela. “The Fund also gives Wellington Zoo staff like Esta the opportunity to work in the field, lending their skills to support conservation projects that are delivering solutions to help save some of our most threatened species.”

“This work builds on our long standing relationship with JGI, including hosting Dr Jane Goodall DBE here at the Zoo several times over the last few years to share her story with the wider community. Wellington Zoo and JGI share the belief that every individual matters and makes an impact,” says Daniela.

JGI New Zealand was formed in 2014 following Dr Jane Goodall’s visit, and will be launching its programmes and operations this year. JGI NZ will be welcoming Jane Goodall back to New Zealand in November this year.

“JGI NZ is thrilled to partner with Wellington Zoo and help facilitate this” says Melanie Vivian CEO & Co-Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute New Zealand. “Esta comes with fabulous skills and a wonderful sprit and energy, and of course passion for chimpanzees, which all makes for a perfect match to undertake this work on the JGI project in Senegal.”

JGI is a global non-profit organisation founded in 1977 by Dr Jane Goodall DBE, world renowned primatologist and conservationist.

You can follow Esta’s progress with the project at Wellingtonzoo.com

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