Erin WESSLING

Erin is a behavioral ecologist and conservation biologist whose work sits at the intersection of research and on-the-ground impact for great apes, especially chimpanzees. She is dedicated to advancing our understanding of Pan behavioral ecology by prioritizing ecological perspectives and comparative approaches, all the while translating scientific discovery into impactful, evidence-based conservation policy and practice.

At the heart of her research is a commitment to producing rigorous science that not only expands our fundamental understanding of animal behavior and evolution, but also shapes how we approach real-world conservation challenges. She is deeply invested in demonstrating how the study of charismatic species such as apes can both inform core theories in behavioral ecology and catalyze high-impact conservation interventions.

She spearheads several major initiatives, including two cornerstone field research platforms—the BonDiv Project, focusing on bonobo behavioral ecology and conservation across the Congo Basin, and the Moyen-Bafing Chimpanzee Project in Guinea, studying chimpanzees living in an arid savanna-mosaic landscape. She also leads the Western Chimpanzee Conservation Regional Alliance, chairing the Working Group on Chimpanzee Cultures, and co-chairing the IUCN’s new joint-commission taskforce dedicated to the conservation of animal cultures.