Protecting Chimpanzees

Thank you for donating to our Protecting Chimpanzees project. Your support is helping David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) fund the Chimpanzee Conservation Centre (CCC), our ground-based conservation partners who work to protect wild western chimpanzee populations.

The year 2020 has been fraught with challenges, in light of the global pandemic, which has forced us all to adapt, one way or another. Despite the difficulties we are now faced with, we are proud to say that our relationship is as strong as ever with our ground-based conservation partners and that our combined efforts are continuing to make a difference to some of the most world’s most vulnerable wildlife populations and communities living alongside them. We are incredibly grateful to the brave wildlife rangers, who even amid the current crisis, are risking their lives on the frontline of wildlife crime and working tirelessly to maintain their conservation efforts.

DSWF provides direct funding to CCC’s education program and to support their overall mission of carrying out vital rescue, rehabilitation and release programmes for illegally trafficked chimps and local awareness campaigns attempting to reduce the demand for local trade.

Your generosity, your impact:

Caring for these primates in the sanctuaries requires a great amount of dedication and funding from CCC’s partners, like DSWF. From the day a chimpanzee is rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, it can take up to 15 years before they are completely able to survive and thrive on their own in the wild.

Since 2008, CCC have successfully rescued, rehabilitated and released 16 chimps back into the wild and have many others in their care on their way back to their ultimate release back into the wild.

DSWF and CCC’s current project involve increasing education and community engagement around the main release sites and national park where CCC are operating, in attempts to dismantle the foundations of this illegal trade. We are pleased to say that since the start of the year, DSWF and CCC have funded for 350 children to receive a lesson every month, teaching them about the pressing chimpanzee conservation issues. DSWF’s funding has also helped established a ladies’ community group, providing women with more sustainable income, whereby they make wonderful creations from plastic bags.

Through long term conservation funding, DSWF is supporting CCC’s next steps and exciting future plans to develop and grow their education programme in order to implement a robust conservation curriculum within schools.

From everyone here at DSWF, thank you in advance for your support at such a critical time. With your help, DSWF can continue to fund CCC and their incredible work to protect the western chimpanzee.

Links:

• Adopt Kivili the Chimpanzee
• Learn more about how we protect Chimpanzees
• Visit DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year 2020 Online Exhibition

Happy New Year from the team at David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF)!

In 2019 we marked 35 years since David Shepherd founded DSWF and celebrated the incredible milestone of together raising over £10million to protect endangered wildlife across Africa and Asia.

As we head into 2020, we pledge to continue our vital work fighting against extinction, through our support for the incredible conservation partners we work with.

We hope you will continue to stand with us in our commitment to fight, protect and engage on behalf of endangered wildlife for many years to come.

Please take a moment to watch the following film which shows our commitment to the future of wildlife: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHQTWECcIvI

Together we have the power to continue David Shepherd’s legacy, give a voice to the voiceless and help end extinction before it’s too late. Thank you for your support.