The Jane Goodall Institute came to being with the mission of protecting large apes and the ecosystems they depend on. Almost half a century later, it continues its work, spurred by scientific research, environmental education, and a commitment to preserving nature.
Rebeca Atencia, director of the Jane Goodall Institute in Congo, will share her experience leading the Tchimpounga Rehabilitation Center, the largest in Africa. She will also invite the audience to discover her work in preserving chimpanzees and how she contributes to caring for the jungle and the planet’s global health.
Photograph: Fernando Turmo
Rebeca Atencia completed veterinarian studies at the Complutense University of Madrid (where she later finished her doctorate), training in medicine for wild animals while she obtained her degree. In 2004, she moved to Africa to work at HELP-Congo, an organisation specialised in reintroducing chimpanzees into their natural habitat. Later, in the year 2006, she began working as director of the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center under the Jane Goodall Institute in Congo. Here, she was in charge of the rehabilitation and well-being of over 150 rescued chimpanzees (mainly victims of illegal trafficking and poaching), as well as other wild animals who had also been rescued, such as grey parrots, gorillas, mandrills, and other cercopithecines.
Photograph: Fernando Turmo
He holds a degree in Audio-Visual Communication (2001) from the University of Salamanca. From 2016 through 2018, he was director and host of Los desayunos on TVE. He was assistant director of news on TVE, director of Canal 24 horas, director of the news website www.rtve.es, and director of the social media team for TVE’s news. He currently heads Zoom Net, TVE’s technology and digital culture programme.
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