THEY’RE our closest animal relatives, sharing an incredible 98 per cent of the same DNA, but they’re suffering as a result of human activity — from habitat destruction to poaching and the illegal pet trade.

According to animal conservation group See the Wild, almost half of all primate species are under threat of extinction.

Wildlife photographer Margot Raggett is working to change that by bringing awareness to the plight of gorillas, chimpanzees, orang-utans and bonobos though the release of a charity book titled Remembering Great Apes.

The book will be the latest addition to her “Remembering Wildlife” series, following the highly successful Remembering Elephants and Remembering Rhinos.

The coffee table book, which is scheduled to be published on October 15, will feature breathtaking images donated by some of the world’s top wildlife photographers, including Tim Laman, Jonathan and Angela Scott, Daryl Balfour, Greg du Toit and Will Burrard-Lucas.

It will also include a foreword written by acclaimed chimpanzee conservationist Jane Goodall, DBE, and be edited by ape expert Ian Redmond OBE.

Ms Raggett has set up a Kickstarter campaign to fund production of the book and to date has raised $186,772. All profits will go toward great ape protection projects in Africa and Asia.

The first two books raised an incredible $537,000 on the crowd-funding platform.

“This year, we want to turn our attention to great apes, so gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orang-utans,” wrote Raggett on the Kickstarter page.

“If we are successful on Kickstarter, the funds we raise from book sales will go to projects supporting these species.”

Ms Raggett has partnered with international wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation, with additional funds going to The Jane Goodall Institute.