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Future coexistence with great apes will require major changes to policy and practice

Nature Human Behaviour volume 8, pages 632–643 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

The great apes—bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans—are critically threatened by human activities. We have destroyed their habitats, hunted them and transmitted fatal diseases to them. Yet we also conduct research on them, try to protect them and live alongside them. They are endangered, and time is running out. Here we outline what must be done to ensure that future generations continue to share this planet with great apes. We urge dialogue with those who live with great apes and interact with them often. We advocate conservation plans that acknowledge the realities of climate change, economic drivers and population growth. We encourage researchers to use technology to minimize risks to great apes. Our proposals will require substantial investment, and we identify ways to generate these funds. We conclude with a discussion of how field researchers might alter their work to protect our closest living relatives more effectively.

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Fig. 1: The great apes, like humans, develop over distinct life-history stages and have long lives.
Fig. 2: Synopsis of our proposals.
Fig. 3: Threats to great apes in the wild.
Fig. 4: Great apes in human-modified environments.
Fig. 5: Protected areas safeguard great ape habitat.
Fig. 6: Conserving great apes outside protected areas.
Fig. 7: Protecting great apes against the threat of hunting.
Fig. 8: Providing healthcare to reduce the threat of spillback.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    John C. Mitani & Andrew J. Marshall

  2. Ngogo Chimpanzee Project, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    John C. Mitani

  3. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA, USA

    Ekwoge Abwe

  4. Cameroon Biodiversity Association, Douala, Cameroon

    Ekwoge Abwe

  5. Re:wild, Austin, TX, USA

    Genevieve Campbell

  6. Anthropology and Ecology of Disease Emergence Unit, Institut Pasteur/Université Paris Cité, Paris, France

    Tamara Giles-Vernick

  7. Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    Tony Goldberg

  8. Bulindi Chimpanzee and Community Project, Hoima, Uganda

    Matthew R. McLennan

  9. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK

    Matthew R. McLennan

  10. Ape Protection Unit, Four Paws, Hamburg, Germany

    Signe Preuschoft

  11. Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences, University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java, Indonesia

    Jatna Supriatna

  12. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Andrew J. Marshall

  13. Program in the Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Andrew J. Marshall

  14. School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Andrew J. Marshall

  15. Program in Computing for the Arts and Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Andrew J. Marshall

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  1. John C. Mitani
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  2. Ekwoge Abwe
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Correspondence to John C. Mitani.

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Competing interests

G.C. leads an IUCN Task Force that advises businesses and banks regarding how to reduce the negative impacts of their activities on great apes and contribute to their conservation.

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Mitani, J.C., Abwe, E., Campbell, G. et al. Future coexistence with great apes will require major changes to policy and practice. Nat Hum Behav 8, 632–643 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01830-x

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