Photos By: Conserv Congo
On Sunday, Conserv Congo’s ground investigator received word regarding a baby bonobo being held somewhere in the village of Lifanga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
After the team received an image of the baby bonobo, they immediately sent two investigators with the intent of not only saving the baby, but also to make an arrest.
Once at the village, the team was surprised to find Libandi, the man that they were going to arrest, waiting at a police station with the baby bonobo. His explanation was that his dogs had found the bonobo in the forest while he was hunting rodents.
The man said that he was scared waiting for the adult bonobos to return for the baby. He waited for quite some time, but unfortunately none of the bonobos returned.
It is rare but not impossible to find a baby ape alone in the jungle. There are many theories which could explain that, including a parent that was killed, or mother running away from danger. At this stage, there are speculations but the investigation is still underway.
After the man found the orphaned bonobo, he went to the police where he was then questioned, provided a statement, and was released after his story was verified, since he had voluntarily surrendered the animal at his own will.
The baby bonobo, a female under a year old, is currently with the Conserv Congo team in Mondombe, awaiting to be transferred to Lola ya Bonobo in Kinshasa, the only bonobo sanctuary in the country.
Bonobos are only found in the jungles of the DRC and are a part of the four protected great ape species globally.
There are many factors that lead to the slaughter of these magnificent beings, including: food insecurity, ignorance, unemployment, lack of conservation, greed, and selfishness.
Sadly, the situation of wildlife trafficking and poaching in Africa have become so complex and therefore requires a complexity of approaches in order to curb it.
“The endangered primate is very essential to the regeneration of the forest.” Adams Cassinga, Founding Director for Conserv Congo told WAN. “Saving great apes in general and bonobos in particular is critical to save the Congo basin forest, the second largest forest in the world, after the Amazon.”
“Preserving the forest is unequivocally saving humanity as this forest sequestrates carbon and emits oxygen, which is a prerequisite for human existence on earth,” Cassinga continued.
With Bonoboss being extremely threatened by poaching, habitat loss, and total lack of a conservation plan for their safety, it is crucial that we support organizations like Conserv Congo, that are working every day to protect them.
Conserv Congo is a non-profit organization based in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a mission to preserve and protect Congo’s biodiversity while sharing its existence and beauty with the rest of the world.
The organization has investigated over 200 cases, made 150 arrests, and continues to fight to end poaching and wildlife trafficking in Africa.
Conserv Congo needs your help since they rely 100% on donations and members’ contributions to run the bonobo rescue and rehab, and investigation unit.
Please help Conserv Congo continue their incredible work saving our earth’s last bonobos by donating HERE!
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