Great apes amaze us with their intelligence and close genetic ties to humans. Yet, they’re under serious threat. Poaching, habitat loss, and disease are pushing these incredible creatures towards the brink. Every little thing we do can make a big difference in their survival. But how can we, as individuals, help protect great apes?
A Book of Monkeys (and other primates) is a charming book to teach about our closest relatives, from lemurs and tarsiers, to gorillas and chimpanzees. Can you tell a slow loris from a slender loris? Did you know that when it rains, orangutans make umbrellas using leaves? What’s the difference between a monkey and an ape? Learn about their social and grooming habits(and how male gorillas impress female gorillas). Also learn the difference between a chimp and bonobo, which monkey swims and what a macaque likes to eat for lunch!
Great apes are our closest relatives, and thankfully we have gone beyond dressing up chimpanzees to ‘take tea’ for TV adverts, but many still are kidnapped from their parents (chimp stay with their mums for around 8 years) and often have their teeth taken out, to provide ‘entertainment’ either for photos or in film and TV. Support Born Free which investigates to stop the bushmeat trade to help African animals, placing rescued apes in sanctuaries.
We don’t need caged great apes in zoos to conserve them. Most are bored out of their brains, some gorillas are castrated (to make them ‘easier to handle’) and there is even talk of killing some, due to ‘zoo overcrowding’. Born Free supports Limbe Wildlife Centre, which conserves gorillas and chimps in natural habitats in Cameroon, Africa, rescued from the wildlife trade.
Gins and Vodkas to Help Gorillas
Gorilla Spirits Co offers boozy spirits and liqueurs with a difference. Because a portion of sales are donated to charity to help endangered gorillas, one of our closest relatives. Also available for contract distilling.
The range includes Silverback mountain strength gin (made with British wheat and seven botanicals: juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, sweet orange, calamus root, acacia blossom and lemongrass. Along with a strawberry sweet gin and Old Tim Gin (from the 18th century). Graveney Gin is an organic gin made in Tooting (London) that also donates a portion of profits to a charity that protects wild gorillas.
All wild gorillas (both eastern and western gorillas) live in central Africa, they don’t see each other, as there is a big rainforest between them. They move in ‘troops’ of up to 30 gorillas, which is led by the dominant silverback male, a few females and the children. Critically endangered, due to loss of habitat, poaching and even being killed to make ashtrays, from their paws.
Mostly herbivores (they will sometimes eat insects and snails), the silverback is around 10 times stronger than a human man, but mostly are gentle, they only attack if they feel at risk, or are protecting their families. One of the most clever of all animals, they can make bamboo ladders to help babies reach trees, and even make cutlery from twigs, to eat insects.
Avoid Palm Oil to Help Orangutans
See our extensive post on reasons to find alternatives to palm oil.
