Lola Ya Bonobo

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Please Help!

Category: bonobos, the sanctuary | Date: Apr 02 2009 | By: lolayabonobo

I know everyone’s been waiting for news and i wish i had better news. i have never seen anything like this epidemic. it’s like some kind of plague. you go down to the night building and there are 10 bonobos face down, arms spread eagle, and they can’t breathe. they just breath in and out, in and out, like they’re suffocating. it starts with a mucous-filled nose, but the bonobos always seem to have snotty noses, so it’s a walking heart attack.

Kikongo was really sick, but he seems a bit better now. this should make everyone who has been here feel better, because kikongo is such a character. he’s one of the funniest bonobos at lola, he likes doing armless cartwheels and running around in circles until he gets dizzy and falls over. if he dies it is just going to break my heart.

The nursery is somehow OK, but they have had it pass through two times now, and Luozi is sick, which means he could give it to everyone. i don’t know how the nursery is going to stand a third round.

I spoke to Claudine today about the budget deficit. the problem is one of the foundations who has paid for the bonobo food for years has completely slashed our funding. which means this year we are $33,000 down. I have never really asked urgently for donations. i like doing ’sponsor a bonobo for valentines day’ and stuff like that, but this time Lola is really in trouble. please spread the word, and help if you can.

Kikongo when he is feeling better - please don’t die!!!

kikongo_1

kikongo_2

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8 Responses to “Please Help!”

Wanda - Atlanta, on 02 Apr 2009

I just did a little and will try to do some each two weeks –
I will pass word around - you may want to make a “all-out” Facebook effort — JACK did that —-gosh this is horrible!

sheryl, washington dc, on 02 Apr 2009

Wanda, there is a Facebook group for Lola but it’s maintained by a Renaud Pirotte and I don’t know if he speaks English. My French is rudimentary, at best, but I sent a message to him and put up a wall post and opened a discussion topic about the crisis.

s.

Annie, on 02 Apr 2009

I am saying prayers and will try to donate! God bless and give you strength to help these babies!

cathy-california, on 02 Apr 2009

This is beyond heartbreaking. Is there nothing that can be done to thin their mucous, the way we would for human infants? Have any autopsies been done? I am sending $1000 under my husband’s name, so that his company, Nokia, will match the donation dollar for dollar. Can you give me an address to send the paperwork to?
His name will appear as E Cavasian.

sheryl, washington dc, on 03 Apr 2009

Hi cathy. You’ll find the U.S. address for WLD here: http://wildlifedirect.org/contact.php

I’ll write to Vanessa about your donation. Thanks!

s.

Jamesbonobofan, on 03 Apr 2009

Vanessa, Thank you and everyone for looking after the bonobos. I made a donation but I wish I could give more. Please get well all you bonobos!

Christine C., on 03 Apr 2009

Hi Vanessa — I have a ton of questions…are the sick bonobos not being isolated from the others? Even if the bonobos are not presenting with illness anymore, they certainly can be carrying the virus, can’t they? Are the Lola staff staying on site while the epidemic is raging as not to be bringing anything back from the outside world? What does this mean for release…doesn’t this outbreak potentially not only weaken the animals at Lola, but raises the risks considerably of spreading disease in healthy bonobo populations in the wild? Is there any chance that the bonobos at Lola can be vaccinated to at least help boost their immune systems so they are better able to fight off infection…my understanding is that this has been done with some success in mountain gorillas and chimps.

Also, when you have time, can you please explain in more detail what this release project is and how it will work…I know there has been some discussion here, but I really feel like I don’t understand what is happening, or why the release is taking place at this point in time.

Thanks for taking the time to read (and hopefully answer!) my plethora of questions!!

cathy-california, on 03 Apr 2009

Thanks Sheryl!!

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