 Des Moines, Iowa – May 31, 2006 – A world of great apes, breakthrough scientific research and global conservation is about to open to the public. Officials with Great Ape Trust of Iowa announced today the world-class research facility in southeast Des Moines will provide free tours to small groups throughout the summer. The program begins June 6 and runs through September 7.
“This is a significant day in the early history of Great Ape Trust. It’s extremely gratifying to open our campus and allow visitors to learn about these important apes and the dedicated women and men who study and care for them,” says Ted Townsend, founder and chairman of Great Ape Trust. “I have no doubt that those fortunate enough to visit Great Ape Trust will experience a new reality and be forever changed.”
 The visitation program was designed by Great Ape Trust scientists to work in concert with their ongoing research into ape intelligence, language, tool use and culture. In addition to a presentation about the scientific work conducted on The Trust’s 230 acre campus, the two-hour tour will include an orientation on the plight of great apes in the wild and an overview of Great Ape Trust’s global conservation efforts. If weather permits – and the apes wish to participate – an introduction of some great ape residents will be provided to visitors.
“Nothing will ever replace or replicate the experience of eye – to – eye contact with an ape. However, like our scientific research, the visitors experience is voluntary for the apes,” adds Townsend. “We fully expect some of them to welcome our guests, but there’s no guarantee of it – this is part of the public’s learning process about Great Ape Trust and our residents.”
The free public visits will occur throughout the summer on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Group sizes are limited to 30 people per day and are available to organized groups, families and individuals. Requests will only be accepted through The Trust’s Web site, www.GreatApeTrust.org. Due to the more advanced nature of this experience, Great Ape Trust requires that visitors be at least 10 years of age.
| To register for a visit to Great Ape Trust, go here. |
Great Ape Trust Background
When completed, Great Ape Trust will be the largest great ape facility in North America and one of the first worldwide to include all four types of great ape – bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans – for noninvasive interdisciplinary studies of their cognitive and communicative capabilities.
Great Ape Trust is dedicated to providing sanctuary and an honorable life for great apes, studying the intelligence of great apes, advancing conservation of great apes and providing unique educational experiences about great apes. Great Ape Trust of Iowa is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization and is certified by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA).
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