Senegal Chimp Project

Protecting Senegal’s Endangered Chimpanzees

Two chimpanzees in a grassy area, with one resting its hand on the other's back.

Community-led conservation at the edge of extinction

In the dry, rugged landscapes of southeastern Senegal, a critically endangered subspecies of chimpanzee is fighting for survival. With fewer than 2,700 Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) left in the country, time is running out.

These remarkable great apes, our closest living relatives, not only share over 98% of our DNA, but also display fascinating cultural behaviours found nowhere else in the world: spear-hunting, cave-dwelling, and unique tool use passed from generation to generation.

Through our partnership with Jane Goodall Institute Spain and local teams in Kédougou, Senegal and northern Guinea, we are committed to protecting these chimpanzees and the fragile ecosystems they call home - using Dr Jane Goodall’s Tacare approach, which places equal value on people, wildlife, and the environment.

Our Approach

Our work in Senegal is rooted in collaboration, sustainability, and long-term community benefit. Together with local communities, we support:

  • 🧠 Conservation research to understand and protect wild chimpanzee populations

  • 🌳 Reforestation and forest nurseries to rebuild degraded landscapes

  • 🍽️ Agroforestry and food security programmes for more resilient farming

  • 📚 Environmental education for youth and local schools

  • 🔥 Climate resilience initiatives, including firebreaks, wells, and live fences

  • 💪 Women-led livelihoods, including biocharcoal production and fonio farming

A large outdoor gathering of people, mostly women and children, sitting under a big tree. Several individuals are standing and speaking to the crowd, with one person holding a black object. A banner reads 'Institut Jane Goodall'. The scene takes place in a dry, rural area.

Why It Matters

Chimpanzees in Senegal face intense pressure from habitat destruction, wildfires, and unsustainable land use. But conservation cannot succeed without meeting the needs of the people who share that land.

That’s why our work goes beyond species protection. We’re restoring landscapes, building climate resilience, supporting education, and creating jobs, particularly for women and marginalised groups, so conservation benefits both nature and the communities who depend on it.

Some highlights so far:

  • 🌾 1,000+ women trained and supported to grow fonio, a climate-resilient native grain

  • 🍊 Fruit trees and food plants distributed to reduce human–wildlife conflict

  • 🪵 Biocharcoal made from straw introduced to reduce pressure on forests

  • 🔥 Firebreaks and ‘live fences’ built to prevent deforestation and protect crops naturally

Group of women and children standing outdoors in a rural setting, holding bags and a banner that reads "Institut Jane Goodall" with animal icons and handprints. There are trees and traditional thatched huts in the background.
A man watering plants in a garden with a grey watering can, surrounded by green trees and plants.
A young chimpanzee perched in the branches of a leafy tree, looking down with a curious expression.

Help Us Protect the Last Wild Chimps of Senegal

Your support powers community-led conservation that works—for chimps, forests, and future generations.

“Only when we understand, can we care. Only when we care, will we help. Only when we help, shall they be saved.”

– Dr Jane Goodall