WASHINGTON, DC (Friday, October 20, 2000) -- Last night, the US Senate unanimously passed the Great Ape Conservation Act, HR 4320. This legislation, authored by Congressman George Miller (D-CA), creates a federal fund of up to $5 million from which grants will be made to conservation projects protecting great apes -- gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and gibbons -- in their natural habitat. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HR 4320 in late July, and the legislation now heads to President Clinton, who is expected to sign it.

Christine Wolf, director of government and international affairs for The Fund for Animals, who testified before the House Resources Committee on the bill, stated, ìThis bipartisan legislation will provide much needed assistance to great ape conservation projects in Africa and southeast Asia. For the Mountain gorilla, of whom only 620 remain, this funding will bolster their chances in a desperate struggle against extinction.î

All over the world, chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, orangutans, and gibbons are disappearing at lightening speed due to habitat destruction and hunting for the bushmeat trade. Logging concessions are continually cropping up in previously uncharted sections of forest, providing access to these rare animals, and leading to their destruction.

Added Wolf, ìThe Great Ape Conservation Act comes at a time when we are seeing the unchecked extermination of our closest genetic relatives. I have had the privilege of spending time with the apes in the wild, and when I look in their eyes I see that our future is inextricably linked with theirs.î

This Great Ape Conservation Act is modeled after three existing conservation funds which are administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service: the African Elephant Conservation Act, the Asian Elephant Conservation Act, and the Rhino and Tiger Conservation Act.

Christine Wolf, Director of Government and International Affairs
The Fund for Animals
World Building
8121 Georgia Ave., Suite 301
Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA
PH: 301-585-2591 ext. 208
FX: 301-585-2595
e-mail: CWolf@fund.org
web: http://www.fund.org/

further details about the act