chimpanzees and everything else, especially in West and Central Africa. This has been
made possible by the logging companies that build roads deep into the heart of the last
rain forests, opening the way for hunters from the towns. And still, in some parts of their
range in Africa, chimpanzee mothers are shot simply so that the hunter can steal the
infants and sell them — as pets, or to the international entertainment industry.
Chimpanzees are recognized as an endangered species — their numbers have
plummeted from about two million a hundred years ago to some 150 000 today, spread
over 21 African nations. It is illegal to hunt, kill and sell endangered species in all
countries that have signed onto the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES) — and that includes all the chimpanzee range countries. But even in
areas officially protected as reserves, such as the Budongo Forest, there is little incentive
for government officials to enforce the law.
Thus the future for chimpanzees in Africa is grim. How shocking if we allow them to
become all but extinct in the wild, surviving only in small heavily protected areas and in
captivity. They need all our help. This is why the work in the Budongo Forest is so
important, for research projects focus attention on specific areas and animals, attract
tourism and provide jobs. How fortunate that Vernon did not give up on his dream of
returning to the forest. His is one of the growing number of voices speaking out on behalf
of an extraordinary species, our closest living relative. Thank you Vernon for caring, for
persisting, and for writing this book.
Introduction 3