A few months ago, when someone said Lodja, I thought of this little impish face. All the bonobos at Lola are named after a town, or a province in Congo. As most of you have seen from the post before last, there’s been a disturbing new influx of orphans coming from Lodja, the town. Claudine, along with the amazing Pierrot Mbonzo, have begun a education program in Lodja. Pierrot is one of my favourite people. He’s always cheerful, but he’s working in one of the most dangerous places for bonobos in Congo.
This is little Kata when she first came in. Pierrot went to Lodja to rescue her, as well to rescue Lomela, and several other times for bonobos who didn’t make it to the sanctuary. The new release site was planned to be on an island near Lodja, but after Pierrot’s investigation, Claudine decided the bonobos who were released there probably wouldn’t make it. The local population believe that eating bonobo meat will help pregnant women give birth to a healthy baby, and that bathing a new born baby in water with bonobo bones will help the baby grow strong. With these kinds of beliefs and of course the bushmeat trade running rampant, an education program in Lodja is crucial. We want to set up bonobo clubs in the schools, set up meetings with the hunters, and educate the community through city meetings and radio messages. ps. thanks this month to Annette R and Maciej G who have both set up monthly donations to Lola!
14 Comments posted on "Lodja education program"
F. J. Pechir on February 28th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Good work! Thank you for all you do to help and protect bonobos!
Christine C. on February 28th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Although I am sorry to hear that the new site will not work out, I am a bit relieved as it just seemed very dangerous for both bonobos and their caretakers. Lodja is just so cute!!! Will you be starting up your Bonobo Handshake Blog soon??
sheryl, washington dc on February 28th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I agree with Christine - I thought the site might prove fatal to bonobos released there. I hope Mr. Mbonzo has great success with the education program. Maybe if the people there understood the truth about pregnancies and understood how much the bonobos are like us - they’d be less inclined to kill them. Oh yeah, I’m looking forward to the Bonobo Handshake blog, too! s.
Samantha on February 28th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Thanks Vanessa for a great update.. keep up the good work. Sam
Lisa, California on February 28th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Look at that smile! Thanks for the update. Although the release site won’t work, it sounds like you guys have all of your work cut out for you with regards to educating and starting clubs and meetings and radio addresses. Good luck and keep us on all the great work. Lisa
Wanda Harris, Atlanta on February 28th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I will donate within the week I want him to make many trips — and I am relieved you won’t be releasing there - very relieved!
Brigitta, Switzerland on March 2nd, 2008 at 10:08 am
Je suis telment impressionée de votre travail! Je croise les doit que vous pouvez réaliser vos projects est restez sain et sauf!
Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL on March 3rd, 2008 at 10:47 am
Vanessa, I don’t know how I missed this post (I’ve been checking your blog several times a day for new posts). I agree with everyone, this is no place for our precious bonobos to be released. These beliefs about bonobos making babies healthy simply must be dispelled…I totally support your work.
Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL on March 4th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Hi Vanessa, now that Pay Pal is working again, I’ve made an open donation, you can put it towards this education program, if you like.
colleen on March 6th, 2008 at 6:56 am
hello - I don’t know blog etiquette, can I jump in and go backwards? In this blog we had mentioned prenatal care vitamin packets - possibly with a picture of a bonobo (cute of course) as a means to reach out to communities in hopes of changing their minds about certain traditions (using bonobo). Would this idea be useful for Pierrot? on trips to Lodja, to carry vitamin packs for pregnant woman? (and would a picture of a bonobo associated with prenatal care vitamins have unintended consequences? ) I still like ideas, not sure if they can go together - ? -
Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL on March 7th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Hey Colleen, nothing wrong with your manners. Great idea about the vitamin packets for Pierrot to distribute on his tribs. Vanessa, what do you think?
cathy-california on March 8th, 2008 at 12:06 am
I’m wondering if they might think the vitamins come directly from the bonobos.
cathy-california on March 8th, 2008 at 12:06 am
I’m wondering if they might think the vitamins come directly from the bonobos.
Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL on March 12th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Great point Cathy! You know, I read about a very famous singer/musician in the Congo, his name is Werrason. He has taken the plight of the bonobo and made it one of his causes. He has recorded specific messages for different areas of the DRC. You can read about him and his work on behalf of the bonobos at The Bonobo Conservation Initiative. Vanessa, perhaps you could enlist his help with educating the local people in your area. Post a comment
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