Chimpanzees face habitat loss, bushmeat hunting, and the wildlife trade across their African range.
Chimpanzees orphaned when mothers are killed for bushmeat experience profound grief and trauma. Infants without social learning from mothers fail to develop normal social skills. Rehabilitation is possible but requires years of specialist care and often cannot achieve full reintegration into wild populations. Each chimp in trade represents an individual with a complex mind and deep social bonds who has experienced catastrophic loss.