The Apes Seizure Database helps to tackle the illegal trade of great apes, and was launched in September 2016 at the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP17) in Johannesburg.

The illegal trafficking of great apes – chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and bonobos – has often gone undetected or unreported for over a decade, and is a sustained threat to the survival of these species.

The Apes Seizure Database, developed by UNEP-WCMC in collaboration with the Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), is the home for records of great apes seized around the world.

For the first time global records will be consolidated into one central, secure and up-to-date database of standardized records, with new reports able to be added quickly and easily directly into the system as soon as they happen. New records are then be validated by a panel of great ape experts to ensure the high quality of data being added into the system.

As well as storing historical data, the Apes Seizure Database has been designed for the needs and challenges of the people providing new data. The system is a fully responsive, allowing providers to upload records direct from the field via smart phones, and caters for users with poor and unstable internet connections.

GRASP is the unique alliance of 105 national governments, conservation organizations, research institutions, UN agencies and private companies committed to ensuring the long-term survival of great apes and their habitats in Africa and Asia.