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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Survival, interactions with conspecifics and reproduction in 37 chimpanzees released into the wild
Biological Conservation, Volume 123, No. 4, Year 2005
Notification
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Description
We report the results of eight years of post-release monitoring of 37 wild-born, captive chimpanzees released into the Conkouati-Douli National Park, Republic of Congo. Overall survival was high, with 23 (62%) individuals remaining in the release zone, and only 5 (14%) confirmed dead. Released females regularly interacted with wild chimpanzees. Several females appeared to have integrated into wild groups for extended periods of time, and four released females gave birth to a total of five offspring. However, encounters with wild chimpanzees were a major cause of mortality in released males, and 40-50% of released males would have died without veterinary intervention. These sex differences are in accordance with knowledge of chimpanzee behavioural ecology. Our results demonstrate that wild-born, captive chimpanzees can be released into the wild successfully, under certain specific conditions. Most importantly, careful planning and preparation is critical at all stages; a suitable release area must be identified; potential risks to existing wild populations, including the possibility of disease transmission, must be minimised; and post-release monitoring is essential. Adolescent females are the most suitable candidates for release, as they appear to be able to integrate successfully into wild communities. However, males should not be released where wild chimpanzees occur, as they are likely to be attacked and killed. Release into the wild addresses the welfare of certain individual animals, although it clearly cannot address the fate of all captive, wild-born chimpanzees. Knowledge of how to successfully release chimpanzees into the wild also has both current and potential future benefits for the conservation of wild chimpanzee populations. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Goossens, Benoît
United Kingdom, Cardiff
College of Biomedical and Life Sciences
Congo
Habitat Ecol. Liberte Primates Congo
Setchell, Joanna M.
United Kingdom, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Tchidongo, E.
Congo
Habitat Ecol. Liberte Primates Congo
Dilambaka, Emmanuel
Congo
Habitat Ecol. Liberte Primates Congo
Vidal, Carmen
Congo
Habitat Ecol. Liberte Primates Congo
Ancrenaz, Marc
Malaysia, Sandakan
Kinabatangan Orangutan Conserv. P.
Jamart, Aliette
Congo
Habitat Ecol. Liberte Primates Congo
Statistics
Citations: 90
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.biocon.2005.01.008
ISSN:
00063207
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Study Locations
Congo
Participants Gender
Female