The Western Chimpanzee is on the Critical Endangered list and so it is extremely good news that Liberian Government announced the protection of more than 155,000 acres of mostly intact forest habitat. This area represents 40% of one of the 15 world biodiversity hotspots.

Scientists estimate that 600,000 western chimpanzees once lived throughout western Africa, but fewer than 25,000 remain. The numbers are expected to drop dramatically, with entire populations forecast to disappear within 10-20 years.

Not just the chimpanzees are beneficiaries of the protection order, the Pygmy hippopotamus, the Liberian mongoose and the white-breasted Guinea fowl are also threatened species that live within this area.

Read Conservation Press Release here.