Following the death of Harambe, increase federal funding for great ape conservation

Millions of people worldwide have expressed concern and outrage after the tragic death in Cincinnati of Harambe, a critically endangered lowland gorilla. This petition seeks a dramatic increase in federal efforts to help gorillas and other great apes which face grave threats from poaching and habitat destruction. The federal Great Ape Conservation Fund, created by Congress in 2000, has an insignificant budget – less than $2 million a year – for efforts to protect apes from extinction. This tiny sum supports conservation of multipe ape species across several continents. Ape conservation programs should be greatly expanded to halt and reverse the decline of the apes. If anything positive comes from the death of Harambe, it will be improved conservation of apes in their native habitats.