title: Successful reproduction in wild-released orphan chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes).
abstract: We report a case of successful reproduction in wild-released orphan chimpanzees. Using non-invasive genetic analysis, we determined the paternity of an infant born to a female chimpanzee released by HELP (Habitat Ecologique et Liberté des Primates) Congo into the Conkouati-Douli National Park, Republic of Congo. The sire was a released male, thus demonstrating successful reproduction in both male and female released chimpanzees. These results provide evidence that release into the wild may be a viable response to the plight of orphan chimpanzees in Africa, and we discuss further applications of non-invasive genetic tagging to release programs.
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity and Ecological Processes Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, PO Box 915, UK. goossensbr@cardiff.ac.uk
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.forename: Joanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Setchell
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dilambaka
authors.forename: Aliette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jamart
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D003223:Congo; D003307:Copulation; D004777:Environment; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*