Talking Apes

On the western edge of the vast Congo basin lies one of the world's most remote rainforests - the Dja. It is one of the last strongholds of a rich biodiversity that includes gorillas, chimps, forest elephants, and a breath-taking range of flora and fauna. 

Dr Nikki Tagg - conservation scientist and Head of Conservation for the Born Free Foundation is one of those rare researchers who has ventured into this spectacular rainforest in the hopes of understanding the causes of biodiversity loss and the mechanisms of co-existence between people and nature to conserve threatened species. 

Her work explores the effect of human activities like hunting and logging on great ape abundance.

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We often hear about how we humans are 98% chimpanzee. In fact, biologically, humans are more closely related to chimpanzees than chimps are to gorillas! 

But when we look past the biological similarities, do we still see ourselves in our closest living relatives, the chimps and bonobos? 

Dr Catherine Hobaiter and her team have spent almost two decades deep in the rainforests of Africa, studying wild chimpanzees and attempting to read between the lines when it comes to their diverse behaviour - especially the nuances of chimp communication. 

When chimps shake hands, point, hold out their palms, or beckon, these gestures look familiar to us - but do they have the same meanings as they do for humans? Are chimps always violent? Do chimpanzee communities always have an alpha male? Why do chimpanzees drum on tree roots!?

Cat shares some of her team's incredible breakthrough scientific discoveries, and some of her favourite personal anecdotes about her time spent with apes like us.

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Decades of losing. Losing forest habitat, losing primate populations, and losing in our efforts to educate politicians, the public, and policy-makers. 

Most critically, we are losing great apes by the thousands each year.

On Giving Day for Apes we talk with PASA's new director, Kelly O'Meara, about how PASA's 23 member primate sanctuaries across Africa are much more than caring arms for the victims of the illegal wildlife trade. 

While the sanctuaries are faced with the responsibility of providing lifelong care to the floods of baby chimps, gorillas, and bonobos that show up at their gates, they are also key stakeholders in the conservation conversation - owed to their unique positioning amidst the local surroundings, communities, and cultures. 

Kelly tells us how PASA acts as a representative for its members and as a voice that raises their importance in protecting not only the individuals in their care but the wild populations beyond their walls too. 

Visit PASA.org to learn more. 

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Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.

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When an entire family of chimpanzees is slaughtered for bushmeat, the baby chimps are captured live and sold into the multi-billion dollar global wildlife trade. Often sold on as pets, they suffer in confinement and misery, deprived of companionship and a natural life in their wild rainforest homes. 

Iris Ho is Head of Campaigns and Policy at PASA (Pan African Sanctuary Alliance) - Africa’s largest coalition of wildlife sanctuaries and one of the world’s leading organizations fighting to protect primates. Her role is to represent PASA at multilateral conferences where wildlife protection policies are made, and to be a voice for PASA’s 23 member wildlife sanctuaries  - all fighting on the frontlines to tackle this intensifying crisis. 

Animal rescues by sanctuaries make up one pillar in the struggle against poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, but the issues need to be tackled holistically to get to the roots. Iris tells us how we might begin to strengthen law enforcement, and change global policies and mindsets to drive lasting transformative changes that could save our wild cousins from extinction. 

Learn more about PASA’s work here: pasa.org

Please consider signing PASA’s petition advocating a ban on pet primates: pasa.org/fight-the-trade-of-primates/

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Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.

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Mountain Gorillas and forest elephants highlight our launch of Talking Apes Season 2 with conservationist and naturalist Ian Redmond. Over his three-decades of life in the wilds, Ian has seen the most beautiful reflections of nature and the most horrific of impacts we humans have dish out. Through it all Ian has remained positive and confident in the resiliency of nature and the strength of our resolve to ensure survival of magnificent species like gorillas and elephants. Part 2 digs deeper into the role of carbon, climate and ecosystem services as an economic commodity that might just provide wildlife with a greater value alive than poached.

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Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.

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Mountain Gorillas and forest elephants highlight our launch of Talking Apes Season 2 with conservationist and naturalist Ian Redmond. Over his three-decades of life in the wilds, Ian has seen the most beautiful reflections of nature and the most horrific of impacts we humans have dish out. Through it all Ian has remained positive and confident in the resiliency of nature and the strength of our resolve to ensure survival of magnificent species like gorillas and elephants.

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Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.

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The touching and beautiful photography of Suzi Eszterhas is a reminder that every photograph has the potential to say something powerful, poignant and meaningful. Much of her work used imagery of baby animals to spur big impact for conservation. On this episode of Talking Apes we’re going to be exploring the way we think, interpret and talk about conservation and wildlife through the camera lens. 

We’ll also touch on the challenges of being an incredibly talented and dedicated female photographer in a field traditionally dominated by men.

Suzi’s images have graced the covers of over 100 magazines such as Smithsonian Magazine, BBC Wildlife, TIME and Ranger Rick. Suzi joins us for a thoughtful — personal look at conservations meaning and its importance in our lives through images, and how that’s brought to life in her new book, NEW ON EARTH: Baby Animals in the Wild

See more of Suzi's work: https://www.suzieszterhas.com/

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Join us for another live Talking Apes with Dr. Karina Flores to dive into her experience as a wildlife veterinarian. With wild patients as varied as African wild dogs, Fishers, Cheetahs, and now rescued chimpanzees here in Sierra Leone at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Dr. Karina has no shortage of experience rolling with the punches and working through the unexpected! Today, she oversees care for the 106 rescued chimpanzees at Tacugama, where each day brings new triumphs and challenges. 

More about Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary: https://www.tacugama.com/

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"I wasn't thinking about saving chimps, we were just trying to help this little guy" Over 100 rescued chimpanzees and 27 years later Bala Amarasekaran - the founder and director of Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary - is the driving force behind Sierra Leone's national animal movement and the effort to create a conservation movement unlike any in West Africa.

For an extra special 20th episode, we join you live from Sierra Leone, as we enjoy a local beer and the magnificent "Salone" sunset while we chat with Bala. 

More about Tacugama: https://www.tacugama.com/

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Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.

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Drones employed in conservation, wildlife, ecology science have gained marked popularity in recent years as they become more accessible to the masses. But more than just toys, drones, a.k.a. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are also becoming increasingly critical in conservation. Researchers and conservationists alike are employing these new aerial technologies to gain new perspectives, gather different types of data, and often, leave less of a human footprint on the otherwise pristine natural landscapes in which they work. 

Join us as we discuss these new conservation technologies and strategies with Serge Wich, UAV specialist and founder of Conservation Drones. Serge shares with us his work in the field and why more and more researchers are taking to the sky to expand the great ape conservation landscape.

More about Conservation Drones: https://conservationdrones.org/

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Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.

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