Introducing Bonobos

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Introducing Bonobos
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Have you heard of bonobos?
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BonoboPan paniscus
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Do the bonobos remind you of anything or anyone?
Why?
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The Great Apes

• And according to some scientists, humans are
  great apes, too.

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Which is which?
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Which is which?

• Gorilla Bonobo Orangutan Chimpanzee

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Meeting the bonobos

• Bonobos are found in only one country the
  Democratic Republic of Congo.
• They inhabit the heart of the Congo Basin, the
  second largest rain forest on earth.
• This region is also home to a vast array of other
  wildlife species including leopard, forest
  elephant, sitatunga, bongo, okapi, forest
  buffalo, congo peacock, and a variety of
  primates.

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Describe the physical characteristics of the
bonobo.
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Adult Females Adult Males

• Average weight is 31 kg/68.3 lbs
• Average height is 2.3 to 2.49 ft

• Average weight is 39 kg/86 lbs
• Average height is 2.40 to 2.72 ft

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Bonobo Social Groups

• Bonobos live in groups of up to 100 individuals.
  Most groups have between 25-75 bonobos.
• They form smaller groups during the day to
  forage.
• What is foraging?

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57 of their diet is fruit

• Bonobos forage for fruit, nuts, seeds, sprouts,
  vegetation, and mushrooms.
• They eat various parts of plants, including the
  leaves, flowers, bark, stems, pith, and roots.

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• They also eat insect larvae, earthworms, honey,
  eggs, and soil. Only sometimes do they eat small
  mammals and they very rarely hunt.
• You could say they are primarily vegetarians or
  herbivores.

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• At night, bonobos re-group and build night nests
  in the trees
• These are made of branches, leaves, and other
  vegetation.
• As they prepare to sleep, bonobos fill the
  twilight with a symphony of soprano squeals.
  Their high-pitched vocalizations sound like a
  flock of exotic birds.

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