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The Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI) at Central Washington University

(Fall 2001)—Dr. Roger and Deborah Fouts are world-famous for their studies in the realm of chimpanzee and human communication. They are deeply respected for their efforts to have chimpanzees in Africa officially recognized as an endangered species rather than as a threatened one, for their work to provide sanctuaries for chimpanzees used by the U.S. military and in biomedical research, and for promoting legal rights for nonhuman great apes.

They created a state-of-the-art chimpanzee facility in 1993, and they co-direct Project Washoe, the first and longest running project focusing on chimpanzee and human communication. Project Washoe’s five signing chimpanzees – Washoe, Loulis, Dar, Moja and Tatu – have acquired American Sign Language (ASL) vocabularies and often communicate with each other and with volunteers using ASL.

Much of the Foutses’ work focuses on protecting chimpanzees in their natural habitat and improving the lives of chimpanzees who are held in captivity. The Foutses have published more than 75 articles in scientific journals and books.

Next of Kin was selected by Publisher’s Weekly and the Los Angeles Times as one of the top 100 books for 1997.

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The State of the Anti-Vivisection Movement in America