Bonobo

Apes
NAMEDESCRIPTION
NAME OF ANIMALBonobos, also known as “pygmy chimpanzees”, are great apes found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite their close physical resemblance to chimpanzees, bonobos have a distinct social structure and are recognized as a separate species. They are considered humans’ closest living relatives, sharing almost 99% of our DNA. 
MEASUREMENTMALEFEMALE
HEAD TO BODY LENGTH27.6 to 32.7 inches ( 70 -83 CM )28 TO 33 INCHES ( 71-84 CM )
HEIGHT39 TO 49 INCHES ( 99 TO 125 CM )111 CM ( 3 FEET 3 INCHES )
WEIGHT45 kg (99 pounds)33 kg (73 pounds)
CHARACTERISTICSDESCRIPTION
RANGETHE BONOBO OCCURS ONLY IN CENTRAL AFRICA IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, IN AN AREA BORDERED BY THE CONGO RIVER IN THE NORTH, THE KASAI RIVER IN THE SOUTH AND WEST, AND THE LUALABA RIVER IN THE EAST.
HABITAT BONOBOS LIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONGO BASIN, WHICH IS THE WORLD’S SECOND-LARGEST RAINFOREST.
PRIMARY DIETOMNIVORE
FOOD HABITATSBONOBOS LIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONGO BASIN, WHICH IS THE WORLD’S SECOND-LARGEST RAINFOREST.
CONSERVATION STATUS ENDANGERED , THE TOTAL POPULATION SIZE OF BONOBOS IS APPROXIMATELY 29,500 – 50,000 INDIVIDUALS. THEIR NUMBERS ARE DECREASING TODAY.
REASON FOR THE STATUS DUE TO LOSS OF HABITAT, AS EXTENSIVE AREAS OF RAINFOREST ARE CLEARED FOR THE PURPOSES OF AGRICULTURE, TIMBER EXTRACTION, AND DEVELOPMENT. ALTHOUGH TRADITIONALLY NOT HUNTED DUE TO LOCAL TABOOS, TODAY THIS SPECIES IS AT RISK FROM THE GROWING BUSHMEAT TRADE, AS DEMAND HAS RECENTLY INCREASED, WHICH IS A THREAT TO MUCH OF AFRICA’S WILDLIFE.
CHARACTERISTICSDESCRIPTION: REPRODUCTION & BEHAVIOR
GESTATION PERIOD220 AND 230 DAYS.
YOUNG PER BIRTH9 TO 10 YEARS OLD
WEANING3 YEARS OF AGE
LIFESTYLEMALE BONOBOS HAVE A LOOSE DOMINANCE HIERARCHY. MALES REMAIN IN THEIR NATAL GROUP DURING THEIR LIFETIME, WHEREAS FEMALE BONOBOS LEAVE AT ADOLESCENCE TO JOIN A DIFFERENT GROUP. OLDER FEMALES GAIN SOCIAL STATUS RELATIVE TO THE RISE IN DOMINANCE OF THEIR MALE OFFSPRING. BONOBOS SPEND ALMOST ALL OF THEIR TIME UP IN TREES, FORAGING FOR FRUIT OR SLEEPING IN NESTS THEY CONSTRUCT IN THE BRANCHES. DURING THEIR REST PERIODS, GROOMING IS OFTEN CARRIED OUT, OCCURRING MOST FREQUENTLY BETWEEN A FEMALE AND MALE, THOUGH ALSO OFTEN BETWEEN TWO FEMALES.
SEXUAL MATURITYBONOBOS REACH SEXUAL MATURITY AT APPROXIMATELY 12 YEARS OF AGE, WITH FEMALES TYPICALLY GIVING BIRTH FOR THE FIRST TIME BETWEEN 13 TO 15 YEARS OF AGE.
BEHAVIORBONOBOS ARE HIGHLY SOCIAL ANIMALS, LIVING IN LARGE COMMUNITIES OF UP TO 120 INDIVIDUALS.
SUBGROUPS USUALLY CONTAIN 2-15 INDIVIDUALS AND ARE USUALLY BASED ON A FEMALE AND HER MALE OFFSPRING, AND ADULT FEMALE ASSOCIATIONS. GROUPS OF BONOBOS OFTEN FORAGE TOGETHER. LARGER SUBGROUPS CAN BE FOUND CLOSE TO FOOD SOURCES.
ALTHOUGH THERE IS EXTENSIVE OVERLAP BETWEEN COMMUNITY RANGES, SUBGROUPS TEND TO AVOID EACH OTHER. IF THEY DO COME IN CONTACT, SERIOUS FIGHTING MAY ENSUE.
SOCIAL RELATIONS WITHIN BONOBO COMMUNITIES ARE LARGELY AFFECTED BY THE SPECIES SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, WHICH IS USED TO MANAGE AND DIFFUSE TENSION
MAIN PREADATOR
IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT, BONOBOS DO NOT HAVE MANY NATURAL PREDATORS DUE TO THEIR LARGE SIZE AND STRONG SOCIAL BONDS. HOWEVER, THEY MAY OCCASIONALLY FALL PREY TO LEOPARDS AND SOMETIMES LARGE BIRDS OF PREY LIKE EAGLES.

LIFESPAN IN THE WILD20 TO 40 YEARS
LIFESPAN IN CAPTIVITY40 YEARS