Great Ape Trust restructuring shifts focus to bonobo research, Rwanda conservation

Des Moines, Iowa – January 28, 2010 – Reorganization at Great Ape Trust is sharpening the scientific research institute’s focus on two priority areas, language research with a colony of six bonobos and a landmark effort to conserve chimpanzee habitat in Rwanda, moves leaders of the Des Moines, Iowa nonprofit organization think will diversify funding streams.

New flood plain levels established by the record Floods of 2008 limited Great Ape Trust’s ability to expand on the southeast Des Moines campus, and prompted negotiations to relocate nine orangutans – six living in Des Moines and three more Great Ape Trust is responsible for in California. Great Ape Trust had hoped to continue its orangutan research program at Des Moines’ Blank Park Zoo, but the financial commitment required to care for the large captive population The Trust is responsible for was beyond the Des Moines zoo’s funding capacities. Negotiations with a major Midwest zoo planning an iconic orangutan exhibit are expected to be finalized in February.

The sharpened focus on the two core priority areas of longitudinal language research with bonobos, who will remain in Des Moines, and the Gishwati Area conservation Program in Rwanda offer both initiatives their best chances to flourish, according to Director of Scientific Research William M. Fields, who will oversee bonobo research and campus operations under the reorganization plan, and Dr. Benjamin Beck, director of conservation. Beck oversees The Trust’s commitment to conservation of apes and their natural habitat through the Gishwati Area Conservation Program.

Before the reorganization, Great Ape Trust had a four-part mission to study the intelligence of great apes, advance their conservation in ape range countries, provide sanctuary and an honorable life for great apes, and provide unique educational experiences about great apes.

“One of the problems we faced was that funding agencies like NICHD (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) were not sure what kind of organization we were,” Fields said. “Those types of agencies are accustomed to dealing with research organizations and academic institutions, but do not fund zoos and sanctuaries. They want reassurance that their funding supports activities they are interested in.”

Fields said that with the restructuring, Great Ape Trust is well poised to move forward with funded scientific research. “Funding agencies are seeking us out,” he said.

Great Ape Trust focuses conservation efforts in Rwanda

In the past, Great Ape Trust has funded dozens of great ape conservation efforts around the world, including serving as one of the lead funders of orangutan field research in Indonesia. With the anticipated relocation of orangutans out of state, it makes sense for Great Ape Trust to focus on one flagship effort to conserve apes in their natural habitat, said Director of Conservation Benjamin Beck. Beck oversees the Gishwati Area Conservation Program, a one-of-a-kind conservation effort to build a “Forest of Hope” benefitting biodiversity, climate and the people of Rwanda.

“We have chosen to focus on a commitment made between our founder, Ted Townsend, and Rwandan President H.E. Paul Kagame to preserve a small population of chimpanzees through reforestation,” Beck said.

Research demands change visitor experiences

The tightened focus on research also means that fewer members of the public will visit Great Ape Trust. Since its inception in April 2002, Great Ape Trust has been a scientific research organization with a very public face, hosting 1,500 to 2,000 visitors annually. In addition to the general public, Great Ape Trust has hosted students from middle schools to the graduate level students from Iowa and well beyond. The Trust also provided unique experiences and developed professional relationships with colleagues and scholars from more than 40 academic and scientific institutions from North America, Asia, Europe, South America and Africa.

“That is not the same as being a public attraction,” said Communications Director Al Setka. “Previously, we felt the opportunity to convey our story through public visits outweighed the costs in preparation, materials, staffing and, more important, valuable research time.”

Now, Setka said, Great Ape Trust expects continue to provide visitor experiences in 2010, but the face of that visitor will likely change. “Because of the demand on precious laboratory time, the same number of guests may tour our facilities but the makeup is likely to include fewer members of the general public and more undergraduate and graduate students, scholars and scientists,” he said. “This slightly redefined visitation program is also more consistent with the policies of those organizations and agencies interested in financially supporting the scientific study at Great Ape Trust.”

As a result of reorganization, Great Ape Trust has cut its operational costs by about half. Ten positions were eliminated in areas not directly related to research or ape care.