"African Nations Plan to Save Thousands of Endangered Chimpanzees"

"GLAND, Switzerland -- The nations of East and Central Africa and some of the world's largest conservation organizations have developed a 10-year conservation action plan to save thousands of endangered eastern chimpanzees. The main threats to these animals, which share 98 percent of human genes, include hunting for bushmeat, capture of infants for the pet trade, disease and habitat loss.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, IUCN, and the Wildlife Conservation Society Monday released the action plan. It shows that the conservation of 16 areas could conserve 96 percent of the known populations of eastern chimpanzees, estimated to be around 50,000 animals.

However, the total number could be as high as 200,000, almost double previous estimates, the conservation groups said."

Environment News Service had the story June 22, 2010.