STORY: LOCATION: Lwiro, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

This chimpanzee was rescued from trafficking

He has traveled by road, boat and plane

to arrive at the Lwiro Primates Rehabilitation Center

The new arrival joins 111 other chimpanzees

The sanctuary has seen a surge in rescues

[Itsaso Velez del Burgo, Director, Lwiro Primates Rehabilitation Center]

"It's horrible because the year 2021 was the worst year in the history of our center, we had 15 arrivals. And you have to think that for every chimpanzee that arrives here at the sanctuary, there are ten more that died in the forest."

The DRC and Congo Republic host

the largest number of great apes in Africa

Their population is declining due

to deforestation, hunting and trafficking

[Claude-Sylvestre Libaku, Manager, Lwiro Primates Rehabilitation Center]

"There are already groups (of apes) that are ready to be reintegrated, but the presence of armed groups in the forest is blocking us."

[Itsaso Velez del Burgo, Director, Lwiro Primates Rehabilitation Center]

"The situation is serious. If we don't act to protect the forest, soon it will be empty."