Bonobos, our closest relatives alongside chimpanzees, face extinction threats from habitat loss and bushmeat hunting, with welfare implications that intersect with conservation urgency.
Bonobo welfare in the wild is primarily threatened by habitat destruction that fragments their forest home and bushmeat hunting. Bonobos caught in the bushmeat trade experience trauma from capture and, for infants who survive after their mothers are killed, the psychological impact of maternal loss. Conservation programs that protect remaining bonobo habitat and provide care for orphaned individuals serve both welfare and conservation goals. Bonobo sanctuaries in DRC provide lifetime care for orphaned individuals while supporting community conservation programs.