CHIMPANZEE COMMUNITY

 

 

Drawing for the Planet's (DftP) Chimpanzee Community project, in partnership with Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection (LCRP) and Born Free, raises awareness of endangered chimpanzees, and raises funds for LCRP’s vital work caring for over a hundred critically endangered Western chimpanzees, orphaned by the illegal bushmeat and pet trades.

Led by Jane Lee McCracken, artist and founder of Drawing for the Planet, over 500 children from the USA, the UK and Liberia participated in workshops organised by Jane, Born Free and LCRP. The children learned about chimpanzees and their pivotal role—as gardeners of the forest—while creating Biro drawings of LCRP's orphan chimpanzees.

The project aims to raise awareness of chimpanzees through the children's drawings, and to create a generation of chimpanzee champions!

"Chimpanzees are humankind’s closest relatives, sharing 99% of our genetic blueprint, and are highly social and deeply intelligent. A keystone species, these sentient mammals help sustain their forest habitat and thus mitigate climate change as these ‘green lungs’ store carbon and generate oxygen."  Born Free 

Deforestation and the illegal wildlife trade are decimating Western chimpanzee populations with as few as 18,000-65,000 wild individuals remaining. Their decline affects us all.

Our project page celebrates how amazing chimpanzees are through art and education.

Scroll down to see the following sections:

• The Project
• The Workshops
• Chimpanzee Community film
• Amazing Chimpanzees Legacy Resource
• About Chimpanzees
• The Artworks
• The Exhibition
• The Amazing Chimpanzees
• The Chimpanzee Champions
• About the Partners

THE PROJECT

OVERVIEW

Launched in 2022, Chimpanzee Community includes Amazing Chimps virtual and on-site interactive environmental education workshops, co-delivered by Laura Eastwood, Born Free's Head of Education, and Jenny Desmond, co-founder of LCRP, and drawing workshops delivered by Jane. 

As part of the project Jane has created montages for each participating school featuring all children's drawings. She also made Gardener of the Forest ballpoint pen drawing to raise funds for Born Free Education, LCRP and for the continuation of the project. See the montages and Jane's drawing in our The Artworks section.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

In 2020 Jane was commissioned by the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead to create an artwork in BALTIC Learning Lounge, inspired by BALTIC’s Animalesque exhibition. Jane delivered workshops to children from Gateshead schools, UK who were given the opportunity to raise awareness of endangered chimpanzees through their drawings. Chimpanzee Community was also inspired by LCRP and its orphan chimpanzees.

Following the installation of the Chimpanzee Community in BALTIC, Jane founded DftP and partnered with Born Free and LCRP to continue the project. Read more about the BALTIC project here: drawingfortheplanet.org/pages/chimpanzee-community-baltic

THE WORKSHOPS

UK & USA WORKSHOPS

In 2022-23, children from El Morro Elementary and Top of the the World Elementary, USA, and Belsay School and Ponteland Primary School, UK, participated in the Born Free and LCRP Amazing Chimpanzees workshops delivered virtually by Laura and Jenny, and Jane's onsite ballpoint pen drawing workshops. 

Laura and Jenny's workshops focused on why the great apes are important and chimpanzee facts–chimpanzees are one of our closest living relatives sharing 99% of our DNA–their rainforest habitat, why non-human animals are important to rainforests, the impact of deforestation and the illegal bushmeat and pet trades on chimpanzees, and how we can help protect chimpanzees and other wildlife.

Children were given the opportunity to watch Jenny's video featuring Mary Beauty, one of the orphan chimpanzees in LCRP's care. In the video Jenny discusses the often tragic circumstances that lead to chimpanzees being rescued by LCRP and the twenty-four hour care they receive on their arrival at the sanctuary. Mary Beauty's mother was killed by poachers for the illegal bushmeat trade when Mary Beauty was only days old.

While most of LCRP's chimpanzees cannot be safely returned to the wild due to the threat of poaching, LCRP's mission is to provide them with a beautiful natural habitat in which to play and explore.

"All of LCRP’s chimpanzee family members are orphans whose mothers and other family members were killed to be eaten; the young chimps were kept alive to be sold into the local and international pet trades.

LCRP works hand in hand with Liberia's Forestry Development Authority and other partners to combat illegal trade in chimpanzees and other protected wildlife. As part of Liberia's Law Enforcement Task Force, LCRP collaborates in enforcing existing laws, strengthening legislation, building capacity, and the development of innovative strategies and new initiatives." LCRP 

Jenny further explained that chimpanzees are not pets and should not be forced to live with humans. She emphasised that LCRP's mission is to keep chimpanzees in the wild where they belong. The chimpanzees at LCRP's sanctuary in West Africa are victims of the illegal bushmeat and pet trades. Their mothers were tragically killed - they require human surrogate mothers to meet their intense needs. 

Jenny said that thanks to LCRP's dedicated and loving team, these individuals are rehabilitated so they can thrive with other chimpanzees in a natural and safe environment for their lifetimes. They will always require their human family to ensure their happiness and wellbeing. 

LIBERIA WORKSHOPS

In 2024, Jane visited Liberia to meet with Jenny and the LCRP team. They travelled to Gbor Kersein Public School, Nimba County, and Charlesville Public School and SNAFU Dock School in Grand Bassa County. 

The children were each given a copy of Born Free's Amazing Chimpanzees workbook. Wildlife ranger Grace Kotee Zansi and conservationist Allen Gweh gave talks to the children about the importance of chimpanzees to the forest and therefore humans too. The children also learned about the impact on chimpanzee families when chimpanzees are killed for the bushmeat and pet trades. The talks were followed by Jane's drawing workshops.

DRAWING WORKSHOPS

In Jane's workshops children were given the opportunity to use Jenny's photographs of LCRP orphan chimpanzees as inspiration for their drawings as well as the ballpoint pens Jane uses to make her drawings. 

She asked the artists to draw the chimpanzee only and not include any background, trees or branches present in the photograph. This approach emphasises the beautiful form and faces of the chimpanzees in the drawings. It also symbolises the habitat loss that is one of the greatest threats to chimpanzees. 

She encouraged the artists to imagine what the chimpanzees had seen with their eyes, to remember that each chimpanzee is an individual in their own right, that they have lost their mothers, and to form emotional connections with the chimpanzees while made their drawings—if we want to save wildlife, it is vital to make emotional connections with animal species; if we care, we want to conserve.

Jane also encouraged the children to express themselves, enjoy transporting their minds through drawing, celebrate their own unique drawing style, and embrace the fact that everyone can draw! 

Many of the Liberian children who participated hadn't draw before but they were overjoyed to have the opportunity to draw chimpanzees in ballpoint pen.   

CHIMPANZEE COMMUNITY FILM

Watch our film which provides a unique insight into Born Free, LCRP's and Jane's workshops and the chimpanzees at the heart of the project.   

ABOUT CHIMPANZEES

Chimpanzees are one of five great apes along with gorillas, orangutans, bonobos and humans. There are four subspecies of chimpanzee:

• western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus)
• Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee ( t. ellioti)
• central chimpanzee (P. t. troglodytes)
• eastern chimpanzee ( t. schweinfurthii)

Chimpanzees share nearly 100% of our DNA, making them our closest living relatives. They not only share many of our physical traits but also many of our psychological and emotional ones too, including happiness, sadness, kindness, anger, and so much more.

Like humans, chimpanzees have opposable thumbs giving them great dexterity. Chimpanzees have coarse black or brown hair everywhere except on their faces, hands and feet and, unlike monkeys, do not have tails.

They live in large communities that can number more than 100 members but break off into smaller groups who travel in and out of the larger group – called fission-fusion. Chimpanzees have complex communication methods made up of sounds and body language such as hand gestures, facial expressions, and numerous vocalisations, including hoots, grunts, screams, and laughter. They enjoy forest fruits, plants, leaves, bark, flowers, seeds, insects and some chimpanzee groups will occasionally eat small reptiles or mammals as well.

Chimpanzees are one of the few species who use tools, using rocks to crack open nuts and sticks stripped of leaves to fish insects out of nests and logs.

It is estimated that only 150,000-200,000 chimpanzees remain in the wild. Populations are rapidly declining due to habitat loss, hunting, extractive industries, and capture for human use as pets, or in zoos, circuses, and medical research. 

Western chimpanzees can be found in Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote D’Ivoire, and Ghana. This subspecies lives in both forest and savannah habitats and, like all chimpanzees, play a vital role in keeping forests alive and healthy, forests that are a critical source of oxygen. Known as ‘Gardeners of the Forest,’ chimpanzees eat over 200 types of food and travel large distances each day, dispersing the seeds through their dung, promoting forest growth, rejuvenating ecosystems, and playing an important role in forest restoration. 

You can help chimpanzees by telling others how amazing and important they are and supporting the efforts of rescue centers and chimpanzee conservation organizations. You can report the harm or suffering of chimpanzees in captivity via Born Free’s Raise the Red Flag campaign or by contacting Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue & Protection through their Contact Page or via whatsapp at +231776147565.

THE ARTWORKS

The following montages featuring all participating children's drawings were created by Jane for each school. Drawing for the Planet has presented schools in the UK, the USA and Liberia with large format prints to display and a banner has been installed in Charlesville Town Hall, Liberia. 

 

GBOR KORSEIN PUBLIC SCHOOL, LIBERIA

 

CHARLESVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL, LIBERIA

  

SNAFU DOCK SCHOOL, LIBERIA

 

DESIGN FOR LCRP FEATURING ALL LIBERIAN CHILDREN'S DRAWINGS

 

EL MORRO AND TOP OF THE WORLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, USA

 

BELSAY SCHOOL, NORTHUMBERLAND, UK

 

PONTELAND PRIMARY SCHOOL AND JAMESON MANOR CHILDREN, PONTELAND, UK

 

GARDENER OF THE FOREST, JANE LEE MCCRACKEN

QUEEN'S HALL EXHIBITION

The Chimpanzee Community exhibition 25 October - 23 November 2024 at the prestigious Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, UK displayed large format vinyls of the children's drawings, Jane's original drawing Gardener of the Forest, photographs of LCRP orphan chimpanzees by Jenny and Drawing for the Planet's film.

THE AMAZING CHIMPANZEES

Meet some of LCRP's amazing chimpanzees, with photographs and descriptions by Jenny Desmond and drawings by our Chimpanzee Community 2 chimp champion children! To adopt an LCRP chimp, click on the links provided or donate to LCRP here: liberiachimpanzeerescue.org/donate

HORI 

Hori lost his eye when his mother was shot, and pellets hit him too. He is a very brave boy and one of the most loving chimpanzees to new babies coming in to LCRP. He loves to move from group to group saying hello each day.

Drawing by Hale, Top of the World Elementary School

MARY BEAUTY

It’s always fun to play with your feet! Mary Beauty certainly enjoys it. 

Drawing by Shaylee, El Morro Elementary School

Mary Beauty is the youngest chimpanzee ever to come into LCRP and possibly the world. She was just days old. Now she is a very cheeky chimpanzee!

LOVE

Love arrived at LCRP in 2023 and was very sick but is now strong and active. Love lives up to her name – sweet and kind!

Drawing by Emily, Belsay Primary School

JOSEPH (PRIME MINISTER)

Yep—a good laugh! Joseph A.K.A Prime Minister loves cuddles.

Drawing by Anna, Ponteland Primary School

Prime Minister is a nickname that stuck. Originally named JOSEPH, this lovely boy arrived to LCRP in May 2019. He was small, sad and weak. His demeanor was very closed, and he was extremely fearful of everything. His fear was so intense that even the slightest sound caused tremors – at first we thought perhaps he had a fever but we quickly determined his shaking was based simply on the extreme trauma he’d experienced prior to meeting him.  His nickname, Prime Minister, came as he opened up and showed that in his own way he reigns supreme, getting what he wants and making his desires clear. Today Prime is assertive yet at the same time shy and needy. He loves mealtimes and is certain to get his share. Prime Minister is an expert groomer and nest builder, telling us he was likely with his family quite long before he was taken by humans. LCRP’s ‘Prime Minister’ is adored by everyone on the team even though he is highly selective about returning their affection. ADOPT Prime Minister here: liberiachimpanzeerescue.org/prime-minister

GLORIA

“I am still recovering from my sad times.” Gloria: an independent explorer

Drawing by Ralph, Belsay Primary School, UK

Gloria was confiscated in the far north of the country and ultimately had to be flown to LCRP due to roads that were unpassable. Her first few days were full of strange people, places and travel. Gloria arrived very thin and scared and needed a lot of one on one attention in a safe and loving environment. Arriving shortly after younger orphan Gola, Gloria had an instant friend with whom to spend her quarantine, offering them both a chance to get 24/7 surrogate mothering and be with other chimps. While she gets along with everyone and loves to play, she is also very independent, spending a lot of her time exploring on her own. Gloria is introspective and seems to absorb all things around her in wonder. Gloria's gorgeous face, lovely disposition endear her to all she meets. ADOPT Gloria here: liberiachimpanzeerescue.org/gloria

BUI

“I am super excited to play with this mountain of cerelac!". Bui: boisterous and sweet

Drawing by Shamsher, Top of the World Elementary School

Bui was brought to LCRP by a Peace Corp volunteer with the surname Bui. While we are very grateful Bui ended up in our care but we also found out that his rescuer had paid for him, which while understandable, sadly leads to more killings of chimpanzees and the sale of more orphans as it feeds the trade and creates demand. We used the opportunity to ensure that other volunteers are requested at the start of their placements to report wildlife for sale or killed but to refrain from giving money to sellers. Bui arrived quite sick and extremely skinny. He had likely been held for some time by his captors after they’d killed his mother. He had shrapnel lodged in his body in multiple locations and was severely dehydrated. Shy by nature and of course traumatized, Bui took quite a while to emerge into the sweet, fun, playful and loving chimp he is today. Bui has grown into a boisterous boy. Eventually Bui decided he enjoyed the antics of the older boys and girls and the playtime in the group and decided to stay for good. ADOPT Bui here: liberiachimpanzeerescue.org/bui

ELLA

Ella is enjoying eating a piece of melon that’s almost as big as she is—just look at that smile! Ella: thriving after a tough rescue

Drawing by Ivy, El Morro Elementary School

Ella was being sold in multiple locations - we were getting reports from various people around the city but kept losing her when attempting her rescue. Finally we were able to arrange somewhat of a “sting” operation and organize our team, the wildlife authorities and the police and capture one of the criminals. We successfully took Ella out of his hands and into ours. On arrival, Ella’s physical and mental condition was better than some chimpanzees we’ve rescued but she had clearly suffered trauma and neglect. Like many of our chimps, she has scars from bullet shrapnel most likely resulting from the shots fired to kill her mother. At first Ella was a bit confused and unnaturally going from stranger to stranger, unsure of whom she should go for food or care. However, she firmly bonded with her caregivers, which is always a very good sign of trust and security. Today Ella is still a joy and a half. She has an amazing laugh and is a very curious and fun little girl. Ella has a very distinct food grunt making it very clear she loves her meals! ADOPT Ella here: liberiachimpanzeerescue.org/ella

KIERAN

"Kieran wants to hold my hand." 

Drawing by Lucy, Belsay Primary School

Baby Kieran is brave and resilient, overcoming seizures he suffered when younger. He is is very active boy who likes to bite for fun!

MAX

“Relaxing in the afternoon.” Max: leadership and laughs.

Drawing by Ewan, Belsay Primary School

Max arrived to LCRP at a very young age, estimated at only about four months old. Unlike many of the chimps who come to the rescue center, Max had spent very little time with humans between the time his family was killed and making it to the safety of proper caregivers. While he had a very traumatic start at a very young age, has done quite well with intensive 24/7 surrogate mothering. At LCRP we attempt to replicate what these infants would be getting get their real moms. Max has grown into an extremely happy and smiley chimp who loves to play and laugh. Max is a leader among the younger and older chimpanzees in the different nursery groups. He is a ham and loves getting attention, especially laughs at his antics.  While there is no way to replace Max's mom or his life in the wild, we hope he has found safety, comfort and happiness here at LCRP! ADOPT Max here: liberiachimpanzeerescue.org/max

POPPY

“I’m taking a big jump.” Poppy: mischievous and smiley

Drawing by Harry, Belsay School

Poppy, nicknamed Picky P, is one of the most vibrant, smiley chimps at Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue & Protection. Poppy came in with a smile and it never wavered, a miracle considering she was a very young infant who’d lost her mother and was confiscated at a checkpoint while her captors were trying to smuggle her through to the city for sale. Poppy has a lot of energy, loves to climb and especially enjoys jumping from high spots to land on her chimpanzee ‘siblings’ or her caregivers. Poppy is smart, funny, and friendly, getting along with all of the chimpanzees. Poppy arrived small and thin but with the positive outlook she maintains today. She is confident and sweet but also mischievous.  Her growth has been wonderful to watch and she is getting to be quite tall as she blossoms. ADOPT Poppy here: liberiachimpanzeerescue.org/poppy

AMAZING CHIMPS LEGACY

Amazing Chimps educational resource will be available as a free download from the Born Free website. A link will also be available here and via LCRP's website.

THANK YOU

The DftP team including DftP Volunteer, veterinary nurse Sue Etherington, worked with Belsay's former Head Teacher, Claire Johnson.

ABOUT LIBERIA CHIMPANZEE RESCUE AND PROTECTION

Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection (LCRP) is the first and only chimpanzee sanctuary and conservation center in Liberia rescuing chimpanzees who are victims of the illegal bushmeat and pet trades. Almost 100 orphaned chimpanzees, most still babies or children, are currently under the care of LCRP. Each month, more captive chimpanzees are confiscated, allowing for the enforcement of Liberia's wildlife laws. Without the ability to confiscate wildlife, authorities cannot protect and preserve chimpanzees. LCRP’s Sanctuary and Conservation Center is dedicated to improving the lives of chimpanzees, both wild and orphaned, through rescue, rehabilitation, protection and conservation. Through the work of LCRP, orphaned chimpanzees are confiscated, rescued and rehabilitated. LCRP’s collaborative partnerships are propelling Liberia’s chimpanzee protection, education, and conservation initiatives forward. Visit LCRP here:

liberiachimpanzeerescue.org

ABOUT BORN FREE

Born Free works tirelessly to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs. As a leading wildlife charity, they oppose the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaign to keep them where they belong – in the wild.

Born Free promotes Compassionate Conservation to enhance the survival of threatened species in the wild and protect natural habitats while respecting the needs and safeguarding the welfare of individual animals. They seek to have a positive impact on animals in the wild and protect their ecosystems in perpetuity, for their own intrinsic value and for the critical roles they play within the natural world.

Visit Born Free here:

bornfree.org.uk

ABOUT DRAWING FOR THE PLANET

We are a global art and environmental education charity with drawing, one of the oldest forms of communication, at its core. Founded by artist Jane Lee McCracken, to share her passions for drawing and wildlife, we partner with international wildlife charity Born Free, conservationists, artists, educators and cultural institutions. Through our art, education, exhibition and conservation fundraising projects we give children, communities and wildlife a voice. Watch our video and visit us at: www.drawingfortheplanet.org 

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Support our global projects, help protect wildlife and give the gift of art and wildlife by donating or becoming a member here:

drawingfortheplanet.org/pages/donate 
drawingfortheplanet.org/pages/membership

ABOUT JANE LEE MCCRACKEN

Shh it's a Tiger! 2013 Biro drawing © Jane Lee McCracken

Jane Lee McCracken constructs intricate, multi-layered Biro drawings, sculptures, installations as well as product designs. Her work represents the beauty of life and its brutal realities, exploring the loss to both humans and animals caused by human destructiveness. She is the founder and CEO of Drawing for the Planet global art, environmental education and conservation charity. 

Over the last decade, she has raised funds for conservation organisations through her art and delivered drawing and environmental education workshops to thousands of people across the world. In 2019 she founded the Where Did All the Animals Go? project in partnership with Born Free and in 2021 Drawing for the Planet. Explore Jane's art:

janeleemccracken.co.uk

Drawing for the Planet would like to thank LCRP, Born Free, and all participating children, staff, communities and our volunteers.