By Teddy Nyagaka and Bridget Amesa
A bonobo is a black faced chimpanzee with black hair. They are mainly found in Congo
(Zaire) rainforest. The bonobo is believed to be the closest ape relative to living man.
they have a slender build, and their arms are longer than their legs. Bonobos use bipedalism,
i.e., walking on two legs, to move through the forest, but they also use their hands and feet to
climb trees. They are arboreal, meaning they spend most of their time in trees.
Bonobos are incredibly social animals, and they live in large communities of around 100
individuals. They communicate using a combination of vocalizations, body language, and
facial expressions. They are intelligent, and their problem-solving abilities have been
compared to those of a 2-year-old child. They have also shown empathy and altruistic
behaviour towards others.
Bonobos are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They feed on fruits,
leaves, nuts, seeds, and insects. They also hunt small mammals like rodents, birds, and
monkeys. Unlike chimpanzees, who engage in violent behaviour like killing and eating other
primates, bonobos are relatively peaceful and non-aggressive.
They are famous for their wide-ranging sexual activities amongst each other. It is not only for
reproduction but also for bonding and playing together, conflict resolution among other
things. Bonobos are generally strong and brave while the bonobo male is 5 times stronger
than a male human being.
Bonobos are perceived to be more peaceful than other apes and are led by females. They can
however fight seriously against each other.
They are very rare creatures and a rare breed of apes.
Despite their unique behaviours bonobos are an endangered species. Bonobos are classified
as endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species. Their population has declined rapidly
over the past few decades due to habitat loss, hunting, and the illegal pet trade.
The primary threat to bonobos is deforestation, which is caused by logging, mining, and
farming activities. The Congo Basin is one of the world’s most biodiverse areas, and it is
home to many endangered species, including bonobos. The clearing of forests destroys their
habitat and disrupts their social structure. Additionally, the logging industry in the DRC has
led to increased human settlement and hunting, which further threatens the survival of
bonobos.
Hunting is another significant threat to bonobos. Bonobos are hunted for their meat, which is
considered a delicacy in some parts of the DRC.
Conservation efforts for bonobos are underway, but they face many challenges. One of the
most significant challenges is political instability in the DRC. The civil war that has plagued
the country for decades has made conservation efforts difficult. Additionally, poverty and
corruption have led to increased hunting and illegal pet trade.