Lola Ya Bonobo

Claudine interviewed (in French) on Néoplanète!

admin — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:09:15 +0000

To listen to the interview, for those of you who have some understanding of French, please click on the image below!

Claudine tells us about the SECAS Conference

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:44:47 +0000

We gathered around the topic of the Great Apes, in a town hall in the Paris region. The Bonobos were first on the list with the showing of “Bonobo, le dernier refuge” (Bonobo, the last refuge) a film by Dominique Hennequin, this was followed by a personal film by André Lucas on the mountain gorillas during his year long visit to Karisoke in the 70’s. And so we discovered that we had both travelled around that area at around the same time, back in the days of Diane Fossey, when the gorillas where of no interest to tourists… The public gathered for the conference marvelled at the dialogue that spoke of another time…

Paris by river

admin — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:54:43 +0000

A great moment of joy today. First day out since the operation for David and Victor. The sun was shining for the occasion. On with the caps and coats to keep out the chill in the air and we were off for a ride on paris’s aquivalent to dug-out canoes: the “bateau mouche” or fly-boats as they are called! There were smiles all around as we boarded after everyone else. Victor, our captain back in Basankusu, and despite not being in command, his eyes were sparkling with joy! When he’s on the water, he’s in his element… and the thousands of kilometres that separate the Lopori and the Seine weren’t going to change that! David was as attentive as any tourist, including the many Japanese tourists surrounding him. Anne was our guide for the day and challenged the men to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower via the stairs! The bet is on, but we’ll see to that later…

Monique and Claudine discussed various administrative problems, somehow lightened under the warm sunshine. David and Victor whipped out their cameras and fired away like the professional paparazzi, they didn’t want to miss a single thing or forget a single moment of this first spring outing. David was rather cautious, staying comfortably in his seat, Victor however had found his sailors feet and strolled over to the bow of the boat, with a quick glance up at the captain’s cabin. We pass by the DRC’s embassy, a little feeling of something close to home for the two men. Finally we pull up in front of the “Pont d’Alma”. Feet back on the ground, but minds soaring high above!

Victor and David are going to have to undergo several operations spread over several months, support from people around them is vital in keeping their spirits up. Following the surgeon Professor Lantieri’s generous intervention, regarding the hospitalisation fees, Air France has also shown great solidarity. Touched by Victor and David’s story, the director of sustainable development at Air France gave Claudine a free two-way ticket from Kinshasa to Paris, so that she could be with the men, her presence is of great comfort to them. We thank Air France for their generosity that has allowed Claudine to accompany the men and keep an eye that they are as comfortable and high spirited as possible.

Kasai & the apple!

admin — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:10:49 +0000

No, no, Eve isn’t the only one who likes to eat apples! Making the most of a student, momentarily distracted, who uses apples for treats to reward the bonobos in the study that she is undertaking, our little Kasaï discreetly snuck over to a piece of apple meant for someone else. She grabbed it and ran off with her precious loot… to quietly eat it safely out of sight!

Kasaï may be the smallest of all our little orphans, but she is by no means the least mischievous…

Kasaï checking out the situation…

No harm, no foul…

Well worth it… there’s a good reason the students use apples as a reward!

Lisala introduces her baby : Nyota

admin — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:16:08 +0000

Enclosure 1 has yet again had the joy of a new birth. Lisala recently gave birth to a little female called Nyota (star in Lingala), both mother and baby are doing just fine. Nyota is Lisala’s first baby and she is very caring and affectionate with her precious offspring.

Nyota was born with a little pink mouth and a mass of black hairs on her head, but “bonobo fashion” obliging… it didn’t resist long to the plucking by her mother, a real shame, she was so pretty…

Mother and daughter on the day Nyota was born

Just look how much she looks like her mother!

Hortense, a new mama in the nursery

admin — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 17:38:23 +0000

Maman Henriette, the first ever substitute mother at Lola, has left the nursery to take on the position of head keeper of enclosure 3 where she was overjoyed and proud to find her past babies grown so big and strong.
But the needs for mamas in the nursery are the same so we have welcomed Hortense who started working with the little ones several months ago now. She received a warm welcome from our happy little babies, excited to be able to play and cuddle a brand new and kind mama. Of course others, such as Shibo and Kodoro, tried and tested the limits, little tearaways that they are…

New orphans : Bombo & Kwilu

admin — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 08:55:45 +0000

One from Basankusu, the other from Mbandaka, they both arrived at Lola on the 9th of January, in the same tiny cage. The transfer was organised by Chacal, one of our men at Ekolo ya Bonobo. The two little males are probably around the same age, Bombo however, weighed nearly twice as much as his frail little companion who, on arrival, was severely emaciated and completely dehydrated… a real sorry sight!

In the weeks that followed, we were to have our share of frights. First off, Bombo stopped eating and drinking and seemed to be suffering from abdominal pains, then Kwilu suffered from severe pain throughout his tiny body along with a very high fever. We soon found out that he was infected with the chikungunya virus (the two mamas looking after them also caught the infection, transmitted by mosquitoes)
Luckily, with the right treatment, lots of love and time dedicated to them, the two little orphans and now in great shape and are currently being introduced into the nursery.

Kwilu, the day he arrived, unbearably thin… and terrified by any sudden sound or movement.

Bombo, on arrival, in much better physical condition than Kwilu, at least from the outside… the little guy is full of tenderness!

Kwilu, six weeks later, gaining weight and getting stronger day by day… Behind him is Tess, his bodyguard, no more harm will come to him… she is watching!!!

Tour operators interested in selling discovery journeys to the DRC.

admin — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:38:48 +0000

Late 2011, in Brussels, the Belgian ambassador for the DRC, Mr. Henri Mova, organised an important conference to present a large public with the marvellous tourism potential of the country. At his request, Claudine went along to speak about Lola ya Bonobo located on the outer skirts of Kinshasa. She went on to describe, with great joy, the beauty of the equatorial rainforest with its dark rivers and the last wild bonobo populations.
In the days following the conference, those who love the Congo, wandered up and down the aisles at the Belgian tourism forum. As usual, Claudine had endless things to say about her country.

Sankuru and her baby Mwinda

admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:04:36 +0000

Here is a photo of Sankuru, a female bonobo at the Ekolo ya Bonobo reintroduction site, with her baby, a little female called Mwinda, which means “Light” in Lingala.

Sankuru has come a long way. She spent the first 7 years of her life in a wooden cage in someone’s yard. She was finally brought to Lola ya Bonobo in June 2009. Today, she is a fine mother.

Bottle collection for Lola

admin — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:31:26 +0000

The young pupils of the Fatuma Primary school in Selembao, Kinshasa recently came to visit Lola and observed the bonobos drinking from plastic bottles, be it the babies in the nursery of those in the adult groups. Some share their bottle with others, whilst others prefer to have their very own bottle to be able to savour the delicious drink wherever they wish to. This is particularly true of the alpha females, no bonobo would be unwise enough as to try to steal it!

And so, very proudly, alongside their headmaster, they handed over no less than 250 empty plastic bottles which they had collected from their friends and family. Thank you to the children for their mobilisation!