Indigenous Community Save Chimp in the Congo Rainforest

Deep in the Congo rainforest, a young chimp is playing on the forest floor, unaware he is about to be killed by poachers and trafficked. He is just one of the tens of thousands of animals trafficked in the Congo Basin each year.

Luckily for this little chimp, his life is about to be saved by a Rainforest Protection and Conservation team created by the Cool Earth – CCREAD project, who came across poachers trying to capture him.

A young chimp in the Congo rainforest with rainforest protection officers.

The group applied skills from a recent training session led by CCREAD, and managed to persuade the poachers to release the young chimp to the conservation team rather than harm him. The team then arranged for his safe transport to a wildlife care centre, ensuring he’s now protected from further trafficking risks.

This inspiring success story underscores the vital role Indigenous and local communities play in safeguarding their rainforest’s biodiversity. Collaborating with rainforest communities can lead to meaningful change and positive outcomes for the environment.

A rainforest protection session taking place in the Congo rainforest.

About the Cool Earth – CCREAD project

Cool Earth and CCREAD work to empower 20 communities in the Congo rainforest by raising awareness on rainforest protection.

Through our awareness raising activities – like community campaigns, school climate education, football awareness events – nearly 25,000 people have been reached. And thanks to these hands-on workshops, climate action awareness has risen drastically by over 70% in areas where sessions were delivered.

We’ve also established 20 community-based groups dedicated to rainforest conservation and climate action. Each group has been trained in forest patrols, advocacy, and communication, working alongside CCREAD to ensure lasting rainforest protection. With initiatives like these, we aim to safeguard even more wildlife (like the young chimp!), trees, and biodiversity within the Congo rainforest.