Ape Action Africa
Caroline
Mclaney
Ceo
Mission
We are passionate about gorilla and chimpanzee conservation! Mefou Primate Sanctuary in Cameroon is home to over 330 primates, largely orphans of the bushmeat trade or pet trade confiscations. They live in huge forest enclosures in an environment that is as natural as we can give them, and is protected from hunters. We work closely with local people in both environmental education and developing community businesses that profit from our presence in their forest. Our vision is to see the great apes become iconic species, animals that Cameroonians want to be proud of and protect, not hunt to extinction.
Category
Animal Welfare
Additional Information
The illegal bushmeat trade in Cameroon is driving gorillas and chimpanzees to exctinction - gorillas are critically endangered, chimps are endangered. Chimp populations in Africa have been decimated over the last 30 years, down by about 80%. The hunting is no longer villagers trying to feed their families, it's an international trade driven by wealthy Africans - gorilla meat is a delicacy and can be bought in London, New York and Paris. The rate of killing is not sustainable and if it continues, the great apes of Africa will be extinct in a generation. Your grandchildren might only be able to see these amazing animals in zoos.
We want to stop that happening and one of our key priorities is to get the message out there. People are still shocked that others will eat a gorilla or a chimp but it happens every day, utnil they are hunted to extinction.
We are a UK registered charity, a 501(c)(3) US not for profit and a registered NGO in Cameroon. There are 6 trustees in the UK, our Director is based in Cameroon and leads a team of 38 Cameroonians.