FRIENDS OF BONOBOS
The world’s only sanctuary and protected area for the care and release of orphaned bonobos.
YOU CAN HELP…
provide a surrogate mother for an orphaned bonobo and safeguard a community-led rainforest preserve for their reintroduction to the wild.
INTRODUCTION
Friends of Bonobos provides rescue, sanctuary, and rewilding to endangered bonobos at its sanctuary, Lola ya Bonobo, and its preserve, Ekolo ya Bonobo, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They work to save the rainforest where bonobos live and collaborate with communities and government to tackle the root causes of bonobo endangerment.
PROJECT DETAILS
Founder Claudine André helped discover the “secret ingredient” for keeping orphaned bonobos alive - LOVE! Food and shelter alone are not enough for these highly intelligent great apes to thrive. Claudine found that replacing the near-constant physical affection and hands-on care provided by bonobo families plays a critical part in nursing an orphaned bonobo back to health and happiness.
At Lola ya Bonobo in DRC, specially trained “mothers” are employed from the local community to fill in for bonobo mothers who are the victims of the bushmeat trade. Baby bonobos are saved from wildlife traffickers and arrive at the Lola sanctuary traumatized and undernourished. Access to expert veterinary care, a surrogate mother, and a lush sanctuary enclosure helps these endangered apes recover the joy of living.
Ekolo ya Bonobo - a nature preserve protected by the local community - offers a long-term wild home for bonobos able to be released back into the wild.
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
Your tax-deductible support helps fund operations and staffing costs at Lola ya Bonobo and Ekolo ya Bonobo in the DR Congo, including veterinary medicines, training and wages for surrogate mothers, groundskeepers, emergency rescue funds, eco-guards, and rainforest biodiversity studies.
WHY THE BONOBO TRUST ENDORSES THIS PROJECT
The entire team at Friends of Bonobos works to address bonobo protection at multiple levels, meaning they tackle both immediate challenges while also working to improve the future. From the timely rescue of bonobo orphans, to investment in community education and development, to engaging government in long-term solutions, they work tirelessly to help ensure a bright future for the bonobo ape, humans’ closest relatives.
