Estelle Raballand
“Dedicated to the conservation of primates, particularly great apes, my journey began in 1994 with my first encounter with a chimpanzee in Guinea. Armed with a background in Population Biology from a French university, I pivoted my academic pursuits to address the urgent need to counter the illegal pet trade threatening chimpanzees in West Africa. This shift led to the initiation of comprehensive in-situ conservation projects, combining law enforcement, public education, awareness campaigns, and habitat preservation, a commitment exemplified during my 16-year leadership at the Chimpanzee Conservation Center (CCC), where I was a founding member of PASA.
Collaborating with Dr. Sheri Speede, I played a crucial role in establishing the Sanaga-Yong chimpanzee rescue center in Cameroon. My efforts extended to Cote d’Ivoire, where I co-founded Akatia and established the Akatia chimpanzee sanctuary, which I currently oversee as director. In 2023, I bolstered my expertise with an MRes in Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour from the University of Roehampton, UK.
Central to my contributions has been pioneering projects, most notably orchestrating the groundbreaking release of a chimpanzee group. This involved intricate tasks such as site selection, biodiversity assessments, population density estimation, and behavioral evaluations of potential candidates for release. I introduced advanced biomonitoring techniques like GPS collars to ensure the success of these releases.
Since 1998, I’ve led Project Primate, Inc., a US non-profit dedicated to funding the CCC in Guinea and Akatia in Cote d’Ivoire. Reflecting on my journey catalyzed by that initial chimpanzee encounter, I’ve dedicated my life to protecting these primates both in captivity and the wild. My work has not only impacted chimpanzees’ lives but has also shaped my own perspective on conservation.”
