July 14, 1960, is the day Dr. Jane Goodall first stepped foot in what is now Gombe Stream National Park to study wild chimpanzees. Dr. Goodall called attention to the remarkable chimpanzee and to this day six decades later advocates on their behalf.

In honor of humankind’s closest living relative, #WorldChimpanzeeDay is a celebration of an extraordinary species: chimpanzees!

and an opportunity to raise awareness about the vital need for worldwide participation in their care, protection, and conservation in the wild and in captivity.

Goals of World Chimpanzee Day:

Celebrate humans’ closest cousin in the animal kingdom;

Raise awareness about threats they face in the wild including habitat loss, disease, and wildlife trafficking; and

Promote their proper care in captive situations.

The founding organisations for World Chimpanzee Day aim to empower communities everywhere to take action on behalf of chimpanzees to ensure a secure and hopeful future for this magnificent species.

What can I do to help chimpanzees?

protect chimpanzees through antipoaching and effective law enforcement.

help governments establish and manage national parks.

monitor chimpanzee populations.

encourage sustainable use of forest resources in park buffer zones.