Songon, Sept. 3, 2025 (AIP) – On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, in Adiopodoumé km 17, the chief of staff to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Prof. Arsène Kobéa, inaugurated the international research laboratory for the protection of chimpanzees and monkeys for intact cultures.

The international research laboratory known as “IRL ChiMP4IC” is a joint initiative of the “Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire” (CSRS) and the “Centre National de Recherche Scientifique” (CNRS) in France. It aims to strengthen and sustain scientific collaboration between the CNRS and the CSRS and to understand and protect human and non-human cultures through biodiversity conservation.

IRL ChiMP41C is fully in line with the Ivorian government's vision, which considers scientific research and innovation to be essential levers for the sustainable development of our country. By focusing on the cultures of chimpanzees and other primates, as well as their interactions with human societies, this laboratory offers a resolutely transdisciplinary approach at the crossroads of biology, anthropology, and the social sciences," said Prof. Kobéa.

The minister's representative, Prof. Adama Diawara, hopes that beyond the scientific benefits, this project will contribute to the preservation of biodiversity in Côte d'Ivoire and West Africa, the empowerment of local communities, and the capacity building of young researchers.

The Director General of the CSRS, Prof. Inza Koné, said that this international laboratory is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Christophe Boesch, pioneer and founder of the Tai Chimpanzee Project, who passed away in January 2024.

“His vision, scientific courage, and passion for cognition, culture, and chimpanzee conservation have profoundly influenced primatology worldwide and inspired several generations of researchers. Finally, his legacy illuminates our work and guides our commitments,” he added.

According to Professor Koné, this international laboratory is based on two flagship initiatives. The first is the Tai Chimpanzee Project, which since 1979 has been continuously observing several chimpanzee communities in Tai National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has produced more than 300 scientific publications.

Secondly, there is the RASAPCI program, launched in 2006 in southeastern Côte d'Ivoire, which works to conserve primates and their habitats by empowering local communities and has produced more than 100 scientific publications.

As for Antoine Petit, CEO of France's CNRS, he emphasized that this laboratory will draw on a network of national and international experts.

“ChiMP4IC aims to study the mechanisms that govern the evolution of human behavior, cognition, language, and culture through the comparative study of chimpanzees and other non-human primates. This research will integrate multidisciplinary approaches, particularly in biology, ecology, cognition, and social sciences,” he explained.  

This major international scientific platform will promote a better understanding of the evolutionary processes that have shaped humanity, while supporting the sustainable conservation of the unique ecosystems and wildlife of Taï National Park and other sites, including the Tanoé-Ehy forest.

(AIP)/tg/fmo