The apes: Challenges for the 21st Century
First conference to address issues facing apes in the wild and in zoos
Brookfield Zoo is hosting an international conference that will define the obstacles facing apes in this century. The Apes: Challenges for the 21st Century is the first conference to address issues affecting gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos, gibbons, and siamangs both in the wild and in zoos. The meeting brings together the world’s leading researchers, zoological park personnel, and field biologists to discuss the most current information and to develop action plans on conservation, husbandry, and other issues.
"The conference convenes at a critical time for our nearest primate relatives," said George B. Rabb, president of the Chicago Zoological Society and director of Brookfield Zoo. In serious danger of extinction, ape populations in Africa and Asia are rapidly decreasing because of habitat destruction from logging, mining, forest fires, hunting for bushmeat, and the illegal pet trade. These issues are of a complex nature, as people must develop more sustainable methods to use the ecosystems they share with animals. By making the public aware of the issues facing apes, conference organizers hope to promote a sense of urgency that leads to dramatic increases in conservation efforts.
More than 400 delegates from countries around the world -- including Indonesia, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Bangladesh, Russia, and Australia -- will participate in three days of concurrent sessions and two evening round table discussions. Issues to be addressed include behavior, nutrition, veterinary medicine, conservation, genetics, socioeconomics, exhibit design, rehabilitation, cognition, and husbandry.
Brookfield Zoo is playing a key role in integrating the work of zoo professionals with the conservation community. A vital common initiative is community-based conservation efforts. Brookfield Zoo is supporting attendance of researchers from the African and Asian countries in which apes are found. Conference delegates will work together to form action plans and identify resources necessary to support conservation efforts that affect people and animals in the countries where they co-exist. The conference will provide a forum to exchange information, share resources, build collaborative relationships, and define immediate and long-range goals for conservation projects in the wild and in zoos.
Action plans will be developed to address the most critical needs. The conference will benefit from the experience of several scientists including plenary speaker Russell Mittermeier, president of Conservation International and chairman of the Primate Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union. Keynote speakers include David Chivers, of Cambridge University, United Kingdom, for lesser apes; Toshisada Nishida, of Kyoto University, Japan, for chimpanzees; Claudia Olejniczak, of Washington University, St. Louis, for gorillas; Gay Reinartz, of the Milwaukee County Zoo, for bonobos; and Carel van Schaik, of Duke University, for orangutans.
The Apes: Challenges for the 21st Century will be held May 10-13 at the Hilton Lisle/Naperville, 3003 Corporate West Drive, Lisle, Ill. For more information, call 708-485-0263, ext. 604, or visit www.brookfieldzoo.org/apeweb/conf.htm.
Brookfield Zoo,formally the Chicago Zoological Park, is known throughout the world for its innovative naturalistic, multi-species exhibits and its international role in animal population management and conservation. Brookfield Zoo is devoted to helping people develop a sustainable and harmonious relationship with nature.
Among the supporters of Brookfield Zoo's conservation efforts is American Airlines, which is a proud sponsor of the ape conference.
To register or for more information about the conference, call Sondra Katzen, Brookfield Zoo, at 708-485-0263, ext. 351,sokatzen@brookfieldzoo.org
Kim Leniek, Public Communications Inc., at 312-558-1770, kleniek@pcipr.com.