Eleke
Category: bonobos | Date: Nov 22 2007 | By: admin
On Monday the 12th of November, the day at Lola started like any other one. The sun rose to the high pitched screeches of awakening bonobos. But Claudine awoke to less pleasant news. She was notified that the Kinshasa zoo had just found a very your male bonobo in the city center. Apparently a Kinoise woman had bought him in Equateur and transported him to Kinshasa in the hopes of selling him. Unfortunately, not an uncommon occurrence. What was special in this case was that the lady had an official document from the provincial environmental authority, authorizing her to transport the bonobo for commercial use. This is of course highly illegal. Forgery or a mix-up in Equateur?
Upon hearing the news, Claudine immediately mobilized her troops, sending Floran and Valerie to find the woman in question and invite her to Lola. When they returned they brought with them a very weak, sick, confused little bonobo, estimated at around three years old. The poor little animal was covered in sores around the torso, from his leash, his teeth had been pulled to be used in magic potions, he was suffering from a flue, and was exhausted to the edge of death. He had been through hell and back, and was not out of the woods yet. Before he was truly safe, the Lola staff had to convince his ‘owner’ to let him stay at Lola.
It is illegal for anyone to buy a bonobo in the Congo, so the Lola staff could not agree to the woman’s demand that they paid her for giving over the little bonobo. All Claudine and her colleaues could do was appeal to her sense of civic duty and basic good sense. After a long while and a tour of the sanctuary, the Lola staff managed to convince the woman that bonobos are a priceless part of the Congolese heritage, and that if she kept the bonobo he would soon die. She would gain nothing, except a fine from the police or worse. She saw the reason in the arguments of the Lola staff and made the right choice. Now, Lola ya Bonobo is the new home of Eleke, who, though still weak, is adjusting fast to life in the sanctuary. He will remain under constant supervision and in quarantine for a few days, but soon he will join the other baby bonobos in the nursery, and be given a new chance at life.
A little break…
Category: the sanctuary | Date: Nov 17 2007 | By: admin
Hi everyone,
Well I’m going on a little holiday (don’t hate me!) so posting wil be a bit spasmodic.
I know there are problems with the pics and I’ve written to blog admin to try and get the problem fixed.
have asked for lo and kata updates but they’ve had they’re hands full with a new little one and they promised they’d send me a pic soon.
But I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to all those people who have given Lola! Thank you so much for all your donations, every little bit helps!!
22 Oct Agnes K $50
10 Oct Judy M $25
1 Oct Brigitta S $10 ( monthly payment)
30 Sep Sheryl B $25
30 Sep Antonio C $100
29 Sep Cathy R $250
16 Sep Hilary W $10
I’ll leave you with a photo of our two best girls, eating as usual, and getting stronger by the day.
ps. I’m trying to find out the problem with the older pics, I can’t see them either!
In search of a new paradise…
Category: the sanctuary | Date: Nov 16 2007 | By: admin
Field report from Claudine and Florent who recently returned from another exploration of the Equateur, near Basankusu.
‘We were on our great quest for the next Grand Lola that will be the next stage in the reintroduction of bonobos into the wild. After floating up the most beautiful rivers whose waters were pitch black, Maringa, Lopori, and Lulonga, we identified a site that wasn’t covered by the annual floods from October to mid December.
The site is 20,000 hectares, a perfect triangle with natural borders, the only occupants being local fishermen. We left to meet the cheifs of the “Pô” tribe and we asked them if they would accept the role of being guardians of bonobos in the future.
We would use the Po people as 60% of our staff in our new Lola, and we would help raise their incomes as well as helping their schools. The people of the forest are very poor, they only have three primary schools and one secondary school in the whole area!
We had a great response from the people. They are excited about the idea of a Grand Lola. The war is still very real here, it’s quite near the front line of a number of past combats. We have found many orphaned children in the region. But nearly everyone goes to school - a Congolese miracle to be sure!
At the moment, we hope to participate in a census of the area to see what kind of wildlife is around and if there are any bonobos. While the census happens, we want to find a base camp in Basankusu so we can get started on the island of GrandLola!
Dominique is raising the funds. I must contact the local, regional, and national authorities to create our dream, an intermediary site for releasing bonobos back into the wild! We are all very excited about creating another world of paradise for the bonobos!’
Nursery graduation!
Category: bonobos | Date: Nov 02 2007 | By: admin
It was a big day for some of the oldest in the nursery. To make room for Lomela and Kata, (and for a little more peace and quiet) the mamas decided to introduce Lodja, Luozi, and Yolo into group 3, our group with all the juveniles.
The love train: Kikongo, Malou, Boende
On the first day, we put the three into the isolation enclosure and brought in some of young bonobos that have recently left the nursery so they could see some familiar faces; Maniema and Malou, as well as a gentle, funny bonobo called Kikongo who left the nursery a few years ago.
There was a LOT of sex, especially since the two boys, Maniema and Kikongo have been living in group 3 with only 2 girls!! Lodja was in heaven! The boys were simply crazy about the new beauty and she was the belle of the playground for hours. Malou, her old girlfriend, was happy to see her two since Malou hasn’t managed to find a good friend yet in group 3 and has been a little lonely.
Lodja, the new belle of the ball
All six bonobos slept in one room and the keeper Jean Claude found them all tangled in one hammock in the morning.
On the second day, we added three more boistrous boys, Boende, Kubulu and Dilolo(whose stitches are healing nicely)
John Claude and the bad boys of group3
Lodja, once again was showered with attention. We simply don’t know how she’s going to juggle all her new boyfriends.
Dilolo & Lodja getting to know one another in the bushes
Dilolo & Lodja getting to know each other even better
Yolo who was as tough as nails in the nursery was suddenly very vulnerable but Boende took Yolo under his wing, and carried him ventrally like a baby all day.
Boende & Yolo, new BFF (Best Friends Forever)
On the third day, Tchilomba, the graceful female and the only adult in the group was introduced to the three with her new baby.
No problems. Everyone was wonderfully happy. A good week’s work.
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