Targeted conservation genetics of the endangered chimpanzee

Area of Science:

• Conservation genetics
• Population genomics
• Wildlife management

Background:

• Common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) populations face extinction due to habitat loss and illegal trade.
• Ex situ conservation programs lack crucial data on founder origins and subspecies ancestry.
• Accurate ancestry information is vital for effective ex situ and potential in situ conservation initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply a genomic tool for inferring ancestry and geographical origin of chimpanzees in ex situ populations.
• To identify suitable individuals for breeding programs and those with admixed ancestry.
• To determine the origin of confiscated chimpanzees for potential reintroduction and combating illegal trade.

Main Methods:

• Design and utilization of a custom capture array with approximately 60,000 ancestry-informative markers.
• Genomic analysis of 167 chimpanzees from ex situ programs and confiscated individuals.
• Identification of non-admixed and admixed individuals based on subspecies ancestry.

Main Results:

• Identified 90 suitable non-admixed chimpanzees within the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Ex situ Programme (EEP).
• Detected 46 individuals with admixed subspecies ancestries, recommended for phasing out of breeding populations.
• Determined the geographical origin of 31 confiscated chimpanzees, demonstrating potential for reintroduction and trade intervention.

Conclusions:

• A novel genomic approach provides an effective method for ex situ management of endangered species like chimpanzees.
• This tool offers a powerful means to combat illegal wildlife trade and support future in situ conservation efforts.
• Non-invasive sampling methods show promise for future conservation action plans.