The Great Ape Project

The Great Ape Project is an initiative that advocates for the rights and welfare of great apes—specifically chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and bonobos. Founded in 1993, it aims to extend certain moral and legal protections, such as the right to life, liberty, and the protection from torture, to these intelligent animals. The project highlights their cognitive and emotional capacities, arguing that they deserve rights similar to humans because of their close evolutionary relationship to us. It promotes awareness and legal reforms to ensure better treatment and conservation of great apes globally.