Bonobos are our closest relatives alongside chimpanzees, highly endangered, and confined to a single country — the Democratic Republic of Congo — where habitat loss and hunting threaten both survival and welfare.
Bonobo welfare is inseparable from conservation: a species under this level of threat cannot be addressed through individual welfare interventions alone. Orphaned bonobos rescued from the bushmeat trade require years of socialization and rehabilitation before potential reintroduction. The trauma of maternal loss, captivity, and inappropriate environments leaves lasting behavioral effects. Lola ya Bonobo represents one of the most sophisticated wildlife rehabilitation programs in Africa.