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Photo Courtesy of
Lola ya Bonobo |
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Deforestation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the resulting trade in bushmeat have produced a number of bonobo “orphans.” Most of these are babies taken from their mothers who were shot for food. Some have been poached for the pet trade and subsequently confiscated or abandoned. Many of these apes are injured or sick – a successful return to the forest is unlikely without extensive support.
Lola ya Bonobo is a bonobo sanctuary on the outskirts of the capital, Kinshasa,
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Photo Courtesy of
Lola ya Bonobo |
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and is home to 53 bonobo orphans. Claudine Andre, a dedicated and skilled expert, founded and manages Lola ya Bonobo – which means Bonobo Paradise in Lingala, the local language. Each bonobo gets a human “mother” who nurses it to health, provides emotional security and love, and helps introduce the bonobos to others to form social groups.
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Photo Courtesy of
Lola ya Bonobo |
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Great Ape Trust was privileged to host Ms. Andre in 2005, when she lectured at Drake University in Des Moines and was featured at a Trust conservation fund-raising event. Great Ape Trust has provided support for sanctuary operations and most recently assisted with the purchase of computers and video/photography equipment for data archiving. Data collection at Lola ya Bonobo is critically important for the selection of bonobos to be reintroduced to the wild.
Web site: http://www.lolayabonobo.org/ |
Great Ape Trust is certified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums
