The Apes in the News page lists a summary and links to news articles that are relevant to the work of the Ape Alliance and ape conservation.
To see pages of the older articles, please scroll to the bottom of the page. Alternativaly, use the search facility below, to find a particular article.
Mate competition by males over females is common in many animal species. During mating season male testosterone levels rise, resulting in an increase in aggressive behavior and masculine features. Male bonobos, however, invest much more into friendly relationships with females. Elevated testosterone and aggression levels would collide with this increased tendency towards forming pair-relationships.
23/01/2012
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Danay Cynthia Downing| CJA Anthrojournal | January 2012
Our closest cousins in the animal kingdom are helping us better understand our possible evolutionary past, but not for long if action isn't taken to prevent their extinction.
Abstract
The bushmeat trade represents a serious threat to the ape populations of Africa. This paper examines the multiple facets of the bushmeat trade: what it consists of, its consequences, and its many other dimensions. The purpose of this assessment is to provide evidence in support of the argument that the bushmeat trade has severely impacted African ape populations and has negatively affected the distribution, population sizes, and overall livelihood of these primates. With a focus on the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), this paper will offer a critical evaluation of this evidence and explore potential remedies and their effectiveness toward this threat.
16/01/2012
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Peter Aldous | New Scientist | January 2012
The illegal bushmeat trade not only threatens the survival of endangered species in Africa, but could also lead to outbreaks of deadly human diseases in North America and Europe.
A pilot study of bushmeat seized at US airports has found ape and monkey parts infected with retroviruses and herpesviruses. None of these viruses were known killers, but this small study has just scratched the surface of a trade that is known to be large.
12/01/2012
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01/01/2012
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Eagerly he collects wood from the ground, snaps the branches into small pieces and carefully balances them in a pile. Then, taking care not to burn himself, he gently strikes a match and gets ready for a fry-up.
Like all red-blooded males, Kanzi loves messing around with a barbecue. But then, as these extraordinary pictures show, Kanzi is no man. He is a bonobo - pygmy chimpanzee - and his love of fire is challenging the way that we think about our closest relatives in the animal kingdom.
For although bonobo apes and larger chimpanzees use twigs and leaves as tools, none has ever shown such skill for cooking food.
30/12/2011
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Dorset Echo | December 2011
A New Year's resolution for Britain's fattest orang-utan has paid off after she lost a quarter of her body weight.
Tubby Oshine tipped the scales at 100kg - more than double her natural weight - and after switching to a new regime has lost 25kg over the past year.
The 14-year-old ape has cut out sweets, jelly and marshmallows and instead tucks into a healthy diet of fruit, vegetables and plenty of exercise.
29/12/2011
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Gorillas 
Orangutans 
Chimpanzees 
Bonobos 
Gibbons 
