Survival of the Apes

Synopsis

The great apes - a group including the gorilla, the chimpanzee and the bonobo - are man’s closest relatives. But in West Africa they are also prized for their meat. Fearing the consequences for the apes’ long-term survival, conservationists are trying to dissuade local people from eating ‘bush meat’. But, as the Cameroonian environmental campaigner Augustin Yaoumbi argues, imposing Western moral values on the region may not help to save the apes. In the rain forest talking to local people, Yaoumbi finds that foreign-backed logging companies represent a far greater threat, both to the apes and the local inhabitants. Logging roads allow hunters access to previously inaccessible forest areas while the hunters - mostly city dwellers - are themselves fighting for their own survival against poverty.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. VHS. col. 52 min.

Year of production

1995

Availability

Sale; 1999 sale: £30.00 (+VAT inc. p&p) (UK education)

Subjects

Development studies

Keywords

Africa; apes; conservation - environment

Credits

Director

Adam Tysoe; Peter deCourcy Hero

Producer

Frances Berrigan

Distributor

Name

TVE

Email

General email: tve@tve.org.uk.Sales and outreach: distribution@tve.org.uk

Web

http://tve.org/ External site opens in new window

Phone

+ 91 (11) 26 410 684

Address

46 Bloomsbury Street
London
WC1B 3QJ

Notes

TVE works with partners globally to produce films on environment and development issues, as well as health and human rights. Most of the 600 films are available for sale on DVD for educational use. Previously known as Television Trust for the Environment.