Prof. Toshisada Nishida, the former President of the International Primatological Society, in collaboration with others, has launched a project to award the great apes “World Heritage Status” in order to prevent their extinction. For more detailed information on the project, please see PAN 8 (1) and 8(2).

In order to obtain World Heritage Status for the great apes, we are collecting information on NGOs/NPOs who are working to conserve any of the great apes and their habitats. Compiling information on NGOs/NPOs is important to negotiations with UNESCO because we will be able to show them how many people and organizations are actually involved in the effort to conserve the great apes. Therefore, we would be very happy if you could answer the questionnaire below about your conservation NGO/NPO and send it to the PAN editorial office at your earliest convenience.

The information you give us will be used only for the above purpose. We will send you news of our progress in the near future and also ask for your input when making the preamble of the World Heritage Species Status.

Answering the questionnaire does not necessary mean that you positively or wholly support this project (though of course we would be happy if you do so). In other words, we are not asking you to make a quick decision on whether you are for or against this project, but simply we need the basic information on your NGO/NPO to demonstrate the breadth of interest in the fate of the great apes; we do not purport to speak on behalf of any other group or individual. We would also appreciate it if you could provide us information on other NGOs/NPOs that are working for the preservation of the great apes in order to compile a comprehensive list. You do not have to resend your reply if you have already sent it to Dr. Michio Nakamura by e-mail.

Thank you for your cooperation and any assistance you can provide.

PAN Editorial Office, c/o T. Nishida, Department of Zoology,

Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

[QUESTIONNAIRE]

1. Name of organization:
2. Nationality of organization:
3. Name of representative person:
4. Name of contact person for correspondence if different from c):
5. Mailing address:
6. E-mail address:
7. Web site if available:
8. Name of periodical publication if available:
9. Number of members:
10. Country(s) of activity:
11. Area(s) of activity:
12. Focus of conservation (within 4 great apes):
13. Recent activities:

1. Name of organization: Mahale Wildlife Conservation Society
2. Nationality of organization: Tanzania
3. Name of the representative person: Hosea Y. Kayumbo & Toshisada Nishida
4. Name of contact person for correspondence if different from c): Toshisada Nishida
5. Mailing Address: c/o T Nishida, Department of Zoology, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
6. E-mail address:
7. Web site: http://jinrui.zool.kyoto-u.ac.jp/PAN/
8. Periodical publications: Pan Africa News
9. Number of members: ca. 100
10. Country(s) of Activity: Tanzania
11. Area(s) of Activity: Mahale and western Tanzania
12. Focus of conservation (within 4 great apes): Chimpanzee (P t schweinfurthii)
13. Recent Activities: Elimination of alien plants, Environmental education, Community conservation, Assistance to local researchers