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Original article: Día Mundial del Chimpancé: Cuando el espejo nos incomoda

Every July 14th marks World Chimpanzee Day, commemorating the moment when Dr. Jane Goodall arrived at Gombe National Park in Tanzania in 1960 to initiate one of the most transformative studies in scientific history.

What she discovered was not just an intelligent animal: it was a mirror. In this context, we invite you to reflect on what we do with what that mirror reveals.

Chimpanzees share over 98% of their DNA with humans. They mourn their dead, create tools, build lasting emotional bonds, and demonstrate empathy.

However, in the last century, they have lost more than 50% of their population. Today, they are classified as endangered by international organizations, and the causes are not natural: deforestation, illegal trafficking, poaching, and agricultural expansion.

Scientific Findings Ignored by Society

Goodall’s findings revolutionized our understanding of non-human animals. They demonstrated that the capacity to feel, think, and live in community is not exclusive to humans.

Yet, this scientific evidence coexists with an economic and cultural system that continues to treat animals as resources, entertainment, or commodities.

The illegal trade of infant chimpanzees exemplifies this contradiction: each captured infant often results in the death of the adult members of their group. They are torn from their communities to meet the demand for exotic pets or entertainment.

Despite being prohibited, this trade persists, driven by markets that prioritize profit over life.

Latin America is not immune to this reality. The region is part of global wildlife trafficking networks, and the demand for exotic animals as pets—including primates—remains a documented issue in various countries.

“Jane Goodall arrived at Gombe and discovered that the line between humans and chimpanzees is much thinner than we believed. Decades later, we continue to use that line to justify their exploitation,” noted Jesica Bon Denis, founder and executive director of Animal Interseccional.

“We believe that scientific knowledge about the inner lives of animals directly challenges us: if we know they feel, connect, and suffer, then our everyday decisions—what we consume, what we tolerate, what we demand—have concrete ethical consequences. It is not enough to be moved once a year,” added Bon Denis.

The Impact of Everyday Decisions

The protection of chimpanzees does not solely depend on conservation policies in Africa. It also relies on decisions made thousands of kilometers away: rejecting the wildlife market, not consuming products linked to deforestation, not attending shows that exploit primates, and demanding legislation that effectively penalizes wildlife trafficking across the region.

“Every everyday choice is part of a larger system. And that system can be transformed,” concluded representatives from Animal Interseccional.

We will continue to provide updates.

La entrada World Chimpanzee Day: Reflecting on the Mirrors of Our Actions se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.