The goal of the Arcus Great Apes Program is to ensure the respect and survival of the great apes and their natural habitat. The Arcus Great Apes Program supports conservation and policy advocacy efforts that promote the survival of the great apes in the wild and in sanctuaries that offer safety and freedom from invasive research and other forms of exploitation. Support from this Program is limited to activities that specifically impact gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, bonobos and gibbons.
The Great Apes Program prioritizes projects in the following areas:
- Great Apes Conservation Compatible with Economic Development:
Ensuring economic development programs and systems and the legal structures and policies that support them are compatible with conservation of great apes living in the wild and sustainable management of their habitat; - Effective and Coordinated Movement:
Building, strengthening, and sustaining an effective and coordinated movement for conserving great apes in the wild and providing care and welfare to apes in captivity (including advocacy for increased public and private resources); and - Respect for the Rights and Value of the Great Apes:
Recognition and respect for the rights and value of the great apes, especially the rights to live free of exploitation, private ownership, and, ultimately, to significantly decrease the need for sanctuaries.
Arcus Great Apes Program Strategies
Competitive grant requests will employ one or more of the following strategies in any of the areas listed above:
Research
Applied research and dissemination focused in the following areas: effective great ape and habitat conservation practices and their relationships to economic growth, approaches to care of apes in captivity, and attitudes and understanding of great apes in locations where they live in the wild and in captivity;
Convening
Convening of multidisciplinary stakeholders to develop stronger partnerships and enhance coordination as well as build capacity for local/regional organizations and strengthen conservation expertise;
Building Networks
Building, strengthening and sustaining local, regional and international networks focused on priority areas, including policy development and enforcement, increased public and private sector support for great ape conservation and for care of apes in captivity, improved and coordinated care of apes in captivity, development of educational programs aimed at changing attitudes and behavior toward great apes;
Linking Conservation and Social Justice
Efforts that link great ape conservation and social justice outcomes, including but not limited to: development of local leaders in range states; empowering communities to sustainably manage the resources upon which they are dependant; ensuring that economic benefits of conservation and sanctuary projects reach the most vulnerable populations; and linking conservation compatible economic development projects with the empowerment of women;
Value of Great Apes
Efforts that promote a deeper understanding of the value of great apes and their link to humans; and
Communication and Advocacy
Targeted communications and advocacy efforts, including expansion of the network of spokespeople and organizations addressing great ape conservation.
A Note on Sanctuaries
To be eligible for support from this Program, sanctuaries must adhere to strict policies regarding the treatment of apes. They may not breed rescued apes or engage in any commercial activity (such as using great apes for entertainment or hire, or buying, selling, trading, loaning or donated apes). Public access is allowed only when resident apes are accorded privacy and shelter, and their overall well-being is not compromised.
Organizations must accept responsibility for the lifetime care of all apes, which may include rehabilitation and release to native habitat or transfer to another facility that can offer higher quality care.