The Bonobo

§Scientific Name: Pan paniscus
Habitat: tropical and subtropical forests
Location: Central Africa
Population: There are no reliable estimates for current Bonobo numbers because many years of civil unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has prohibited population surveys from being conducted.
Bonobos are extensively hunted for their meat – both for personal consumption and for the commercial bushmeat trade. Their habitat is rapidly being lost to logging and agriculture.

§Background

§Bonobos, arguably our closest relatives, are found only in the rainforests of the central Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Africa. Populations have rapidly declined over the last 30 years because of poaching and habitat loss.

§Bonobos live in the forests of Salonga National Park, the only national park where the species is found.  Invasion by gangs of poachers in the park has affected conservation efforts as civil unrest prevails in the region.

§Physical description

§Compared to chimpanzees, bonobos have longer legs, shorter arms and a narrower mid-section. They are also generally smaller, with a rounder skull and flatter face. Their faces are black with vibrant red lips. Bonobos are covered with black fur that often turns grey when they get older.

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