Ivory Coast, which has seen a 90 percent decrease in its chimpanzees in just 20 years, is to host international talks in July in a bid to save the primates.
Some 200 experts are due in the economic capital Abidjan from July 24 to 27 "to share experiences on chimpanzee conservation across Africa," Inza Kone, who heads a Swiss Scientific Research Centre (CSRS) in Ivory Coast, told AFP.
The Wild Chimpanzee Foundation, which works to safeguard chimpanzees in west Africa, says less than 2,000 chimpanzees are left in the country compared to 12,000 in 2002.
The decrease is due to the reduction of their forest habitat due to urbanisation and the hike in cocoa production, with Ivory Coast now the world's top cocoa producer.
The country's forests have shrunk to account for 13 percent of land cover compared to 78 percent at independence in 1960.
Poaching too has contributed to their decline with Ivorians last year eating 120,000 tonnes of bush meat though hunting wild animals is banned.
GMT 15:18 2018 Friday ,19 January
Giant pandas arrive in Finland in Chinese charm offensiveGMT 14:00 2018 Thursday ,18 January
Critically endangered Sumatran elephant gives birth in IndonesiaGMT 13:29 2018 Friday ,12 January
Campaigners slam UK plans on cutting plastic wasteGMT 16:33 2018 Thursday ,11 January
Global warming will expose millions more to floodsGMT 11:26 2017 Thursday ,30 November
Turkish police move to arrest 333 soldiers over Gulen linksGMT 11:45 2017 Saturday ,06 May
Poland EU row over ancient forest heats upGMT 11:10 2017 Friday ,05 May
Bangladesh coal plant could cause 6,000 early deathsGMT 19:01 2017 Monday ,01 May
Cities brace for climate challengesMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor