Gorillas and chimpanzees—our closest living relatives—move through the shadows, often unseen but never absent. From Uganda’s misty highlands to the lowland jungles of the Congo and Central African Republic, these great apes navigate landscapes increasingly fractured by agriculture, logging, and development. Though we share over 98% of our DNA, their lives remain largely hidden, their behaviors under-studied due to their elusive nature and remote habitats.

As forests shrink, apes are pushed closer to human settlements, leading to conflict, displacement, and rising risks of disease transmission. Conservation here is not only about protection—it’s about learning to coexist in a rapidly changing environment.