CONSERVATION THREATS IN AFRICA

Currently the immediate threats to the survival of the chimpanzee species is

habitat destruction and predation by humans. Chimpanzees are also affected by habitat change and fragmentation, with genetic loss and inbreeding within such populations expected to become a significant issue in the future. Researchers have already noted the effects of these phenomena in other primate species - such as the Golden Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia).

OVERALL HABITAT LOSS

The IUCN's red list of Threatened Species states that 83% of mammal species are directly threatened by habitat loss. Although equatorial Africa

has the second largest contiguous tropical moist forest in the world [1.8million kmsq], the use of satellite imagery to record habitat loss in equatorial Africa suggests an annual loss of 0.9% for west Africa, 0.2-0.6% for Central Africa and 1.4% to 15.7% in eastern Africa. Africa has the highest rate of population growth of any major region. In west and eastern Africa high human population densities has resulted not only in habitat loss, but also fragmentation of habitat.

FRAGMENTATION AND DEGRADATION OF FORESTS

The effects of isolation on small populations are understood in theory. Researchers estimated that a minimum of 500 chimpanzees was necessary for a population to have a chance of surviving several hundred years. More recent research has shown that a minimum of 2000 individuals may be needed to sustain populations for several hundred years. While there has been little research into genetic diversity within chimpanzee communities and the movement or dispersal of individuals into other communities, we do know that in west and eastern Africa many populations are in numbers at or below this critical level. It is likely that communities in countries within central Africa, such as those in Cameroon, will soon fall into this category as forests are increasingly degraded and fragmented due to logging operations, and as human populations continue to grow and impinge on habitat. Predation of chimpanzees by humans is also a major threat to chimpanzees in central and west Africa and the most likely cause of local extinction.

HUMAN PREDATION

The primary reason humans predate on chimpanzees is for consumption. The consumption of chimpanzees has become one of the major threats to their survival along with habitat loss. The term often used to describe the consumption of chimpanzees and other wildlife is 'bushmeat'. The current harvest rates of individuals is unsustainable. At least 70% of Africans in chimpanzee range countries consume bushmeat on a regular basis. In north-eastern Congo, harvest levels are reported to be as high as 5-7% of the population per annum , which is higher than the rate of population increase per annum. Researchers demonstrated that the current harvest rates of primates in West and Central Africa were unsustainable, with on key populations collapsing within 50-70 years. The increase in bushmeat and in particular the consumption of great apes, has direct relations to the logging industry The use of guns instead of traditional hunting tools such as spears, nets and snares has allowed hunters to kill gorillas and chimpanzees at rates much higher than seen historically.

Other evidence of increasing predation/consumption is in the growing number of orphaned chimpanzees being cared for in sanctuaries throughout Africa. The capture of live individuals for zoos in the past was relatively high, but is now considerably lower in comparison to hunting for meat.

Another threat to chimpanzee long-term survival is a by-product of hunting. Hunters regularly use rope or wire snares when hunting antelope in the forests. Chimpanzees sustain injuries and sometimes death from these snares. In many sites throughout Africa, researchers have recorded snare injuries to chimpanzees. In some cases the percentage of individuals with permanent disabilities from snare injuries can be as high as 50% of the population.

ANTHROPOZOONOTIC DISEASES

Predation of chimpanzees and close proximity to humans brings another threat to their survival in the wild due to their close relatedness to humans, the opportunities for disease transmission are high.

Chimpanzees and humans share similar physiological and genetic characteristics and thus share many viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, intestinal and ectoparasites. The transmission and potential for transmission of these diseases have been reported by various researchers. The most notable transfer of disease between chimpanzees and humans is HIV/Aids, and several cases have also been recorded where individuals within communities have contracted and died of diseases such as polio, respiratory infections, Ebola, anthrax and mange. Many of these transmissions have been attributed to close contact or proximity to humans that were either members of a local community; field research assistants; protected area management staff, or tourists. Recent outbreaks of Ebola in Gabon and Congo PRC, which may have caused the local extinction of chimpanzee and gorilla populations has concerned many conservationists.