CIRMF - Gabon Great Ape Alliance. The Primate Centre present at BHP Billiton, in Loango

The Gabon Great Ape Alliance, founded in 2007, was born from the desire of the actors involved in the management of orphaned apes in Gabon to coordinate their actions more effectively. It is an informal structure, comprising representatives of the two projects to reintroduce gorillas (PPG and PGFV), the only chimpanzee sanctuary (Lékédi Park), the representative of Gabon Environnement, which hosts a chimpanzee and wishes to develop a sanctuary project, and 2 representatives of the Jane Goodall Institute Gabon. The CIRMF Primate Centre has been involved in these workshops for its expertise in the health risk associated with hosting primates.

In 2007 a management system was set up for orphaned apes: an orphaned ape warning network to simultaneously notify government authorities and hosting facilities; monitoring of reported cases; routine, appropriate quarantine procedures (active involvement of the CIRMF); coordination in the placement of orphans in the various hosting facilities; coordination with the Provincial Directorates of the MEFEDD to seize illegally detained apes and promote the enforcement of existing laws; a national awareness campaign for children aged 8-12 on great apes (educational kit on apes loaned by UNESCO); awareness articles in the national press, work with lawyers on strengthening laws to protect great apes.

This year, the Alliance was approached by the mining group BHP. BHP Billiton is a mining company recently present in Gabon. It exploits a manganese deposit in the region of Franceville. Besides the obligations of the State in terms of environmental considerations (impact assessment, post-exploitation site rehabilitation) and social considerations, BHP Billiton wants to support a great ape conservation project in Gabon. Eager to learn from the organizations conducting great ape projects in Gabon, BHP put together this workshop to learn more about the problem of great apes in Gabon and come up with potential projects. In addition to the Alliance members, other attendees included representatives of ZSL, Max Planck Institute and WCS.