Bonobos, our closest relatives alongside chimpanzees, face extinction threats from habitat loss and hunting, with their unique social structure based on female dominance and affiliative behavior providing insights into primate welfare needs.
Bonobo welfare in the wild is threatened primarily by habitat loss that fragments populations and reduces access to the diverse forest foods they require. Bonobos are caught in wire snare traps intended for other bushmeat species, causing severe injury and often death. Their complex social needs mean that individual bonobos separated from groups suffer significant psychological harm. Sanctuary care for orphaned bonobos in the DRC provides welfare support for animals that cannot be released, demonstrating the feasibility of providing appropriate complex social environments even in resource-limited contexts.