00:01These rare chimpanzees don't know it, but they have changed lives.
00:07A research project studying their behavior has allowed five people from local villages in the southeast of Senegal
00:13to study them and escape from precarious and dangerous work in the many gold mines of the region.
00:21The group of apes, known as the Fongoli chimpanzees, have grown dear to the villagers turned scientists.
00:29For me, the chimpanzees are my second family. They are my family. I love them very, very much.
00:38I have taken them into my heart like my own family. I love their behavior.
00:43When I'm with the chimpanzees, even if I'm alone, it's as if I'm with other people.
00:49I'm out in the bush and I'm happy with them.
00:52I see the young ones playing, the males, everything they do, their behavior. It's very interesting.
01:02The Khadougou region is home to 98% of Senegal's gold mines.
01:08Around 30,000 people work in these mines, known locally as Dura.
01:13But the conditions can be life-threatening.
01:18In Jenji, there is an artisanal gold mine.
01:22There I saw someone go down inside and he never came back up.
01:26I saw people come, go down, take the rope, tie it and pull him back up.
01:32I found out that he was dead. I don't know what he encountered down there.
01:38I told myself, no, I can't go on like this. I'll stop working in the mine.
01:46The research project has not only led to important discoveries on the chimps' behavior since it was started,
01:52but has also benefited the local community.
01:56It's very important that the project has recruited these people.
02:02There is hope that these young people could, in the future, continue to support, protect
02:07and truly work for the well-being of the project.
02:12The project's managers hope that the research will allow locals to take interest in the chimps
02:17and protect them from human-made dangers like pollution and deforestation.
