Most primate enthusiasts will tell you a lot about gorillas or chimpanzees our close cousins, but little is said about Bonobo, another close relative to humans. They are also referred as “pygmy or dwarf chimpanzees” and scientifically known as “pan paniscus”. Surprisingly, they were initially classified as sub-species of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) until the early 1930s when they were finally categorized separately.
Physical description
Bonobo are beautifully characterized by rounder, less protruding and darker faces (contrary to brownish in Chimpanzees), pink lips, narrow chests, relatively long legs as well as tail-tuft in adulthood, besides being gracile/or slender. An adult female bonobo is slightly smaller than an adult male that weighs 35 to 60 kilograms. All in all, the average weight of a female is 33 kilograms while 45 kilograms for males, in addition to a standing height of 111 centimeters.
Habitat and Distribution of Bonobo.
The endangered Bonobo occupy the primary and secondary lowland rainforests (including swamp forests) in the southern banks of Congo River basin, northern side of River Kasai (Democratic Republic of Congo) and are surprisingly native to this country. You will find these primates in the southern banks of the River where they are separated from the chimpanzees that occupy the northern banks of the same River. Much as their lifespan in the wild is still not known or documented, they are capable of living up to 40 years in captivity
These Great Apes were listed as “endangered” under the IUCN Red List of Threatened species, with an estimated population of 15,000 to 20,000 individuals. However, these populations are currently being threatened by challenges of encroachment into their natural habitats resulting from human population growth, insecurities as well and commercial poaching.
Interesting Bonobo behavior
These Great Apes in Africa are both arboreal and terrestrial although predominantly live and feed in trees and only descend to the ground when planning to transfer to other trees. When moving on the ground, it is by quadrupedal knuckle walking although bipedal walking is sometimes used. When it comes to use of tools for performing tasks, the Bonobo mainly use leaf umbrellas as well as branch dragging to scare and intimidate perceived enemies.
Social Structures
When it comes to non-human Great Apes, the Bonobo don’t exhibit male dominance with relatively higher social status given to females. Interesting!!!!!! However, the male bonobo is still dominant to the female during smaller group interactions (usually involving two individuals). You will be surprised to find female co-dominating troops with larger and even older males. Unlike other Great where mature males lead or dominate the family, here the old and experienced matriarch heads the troop alongside another high ranking female.
They live in socially stable troops of 30-100 individuals occupying an area of 22-60 square kilometers with obviously more females and young ones. In most cases, the mature females join forces with their grown-up sons to strengthen their dominance rank.
Diet and feeding habitats
Bonobo are omnivorous with over 57% of their diet comprising of fruits and are supplemented by meat of smaller vertebrates like anomalures, bats, young duikers and flying squirrels, succulent leaves, honey, invertebrates like earthworms and caterpillars, honey and in rare occasions smaller and low-order primates. Although not confirmed, it is believed that these Great Apes practice cannibalism observed in captivity much as it is still disputable.
Threats to Bonobo population
Just like most primates (gorillas and chimpanzees) in Africa, the Bonobo are also threatened by encroachments into their natural habitats, continuous civil unrest, poaching/or bush meat hunting to the point that there are currently only about 15,000 to 20,000 individuals living in smaller and fragmented communities in the wild.
