Lola Ya Bonobo

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jun 26 2008 | By: lolayabonobo

After several years of research, a site with the criteria for a successful release (a space of 40,000 hectares of primary tropical forest - native bonobo habitat) has been selected near Basankusu (in Equateur province). This site – which we are calling Ekolo ya bonobo (The Land of the Bonobos) – will be the world’s first bonobo release site.

Since the middle of the year, numerous contacts have been established with the local population (the Pô Group) in order to educate them about the return of the bonobos to their former habitat. Of course, contacts have also been maintained with the administrative authorities of the region. We benefit greatly from the expertise of the AWF (African Wildlife Foundation), an American environmental organization, active in this region since 2004 when it founded the ’ Maringa-Lopori -Wamba Landscape», and when in 2006, it created the « Natural Reserve of Lomako » with its partner, the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN). The outstanding sensibilisation work realized by the AWF among the local populations throughout the entire region has helped us immensely to establish our contacts.

          The awareness campaigns and the mobilization of the local populations and other concerned groups have been placed in the hands of Pierrot Mbonzo, coordinator of the ABC educational programs. An action plan for 2008 has been developed, together with the AWF and its director for the DRC, Jeff Dupain. The most important stages are:

·      Active mapping and geo-referencing of the site

·      In-depth research into the local flora and fauna of the region, in particular the identification of local seeds and nuts for the biodiversity

·      A series of workshops to analyze information and distribute it to local communities and provincial officials

During this period, at Lola ya Bonobo, Crispin Mahamba and the Sanctuary’s health team were also busy. Since April, the medical analyses recommended by the « Guidelines on Reintroduction » of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have been continuing – including discovering genetic data, making pathological and virological tests, and giving vaccinations. The ABC’ staff has been supported by a team of veterinarians and scientific wildlife experts: veterinarians Nick de Souza (African Director of the World Society of the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and a big bonobo fan), Michel Hallbwax, and Laurence Provot; Anne Fischer, geneticist of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI – EVAN), responsible for generating the genotypes of our bonobos; and our friend Brian Hare, director of the « 3 Chimps Project», in charge of psychological testing.

We have received very positive cooperation from all the services of the Congolese government, who are convinced of the importance of our work.  Under the supervision of the Ministry of the Environment, the Direction of Wildlife Resources of the DRC helped us to acquire quickly those documents necessary for the export of specimens. The Congolese Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) supplied us with technical support for the preservation of these specimens. The ABC also received assistance from the INRB for the necessary bacteriological studies.

The technical preparations for the reintroduction of rehabilitated bonobos, made possible by the WSPA, USFWS and MPI, will continue in 2008: we are planning the bonobo reintroduction for May or June 2009…