Chimpanzees share 98.7% of our DNA and are highly sentient beings facing threats from habitat loss, bushmeat hunting, and the legacy of use in biomedical research.
Chimpanzees are among the most cognitively complex and emotionally sensitive animals known. Research chimpanzees who spent years in laboratory conditions often show PTSD-like symptoms, social dysfunction, and difficulty integrating into groups. Sanctuaries like Chimp Haven in the US provide lifetime care for hundreds of retired research animals but require significant ongoing funding. In the wild, chimpanzees face deforestation, bushmeat hunting, and the live capture of infants for the illegal pet trade which typically requires killing the mother. Orphaned chimpanzees require years of highly skilled care before they can socialize normally. Ebola outbreaks have killed entire communities of chimpanzees in Central Africa with significant welfare implications.