Scientists from Great Ape Trust of Iowa are traveling in Uganda this month. Great Ape Trust spokesman Al Setka explains their mission. He says the trip is twofold, first, they’re conducting a fact-finding mission on great ape research and conservation initiatives in the wild. Setka says the trust is looking for research and conservation projects to support.
Secondly, he says they’re going to attend the 21st Congress of the International Primatalogical Society. Setka says the scientists from Des Moines will have a key role in the congress. He says the theme of this year’s conference is “primate conservation in action” and members of the Great Ape Trust will present scientific papers and a workshop on primate conservation.
Setka says this trip is important to the Great Ape Trust. Setka says the trip is a good example of the international involvement of the trust and says it shows the credibility the trust has received in its relatively short time in existence.
Setka says the Great Ape Trust has already been involved in several outreach efforts. Setka says they’ve helped out with more than a half dozen initiatives on four continents, from a sanctuary for orphaned Bonobos in the Congo, to help displaced Orangutans in Indonesia. The scientists from the Great Ape Trust will return to Des Moines in early July.