Save Endangered Bonobos in the Congo Rainforest

BCI and our partners at Lilungu have been keeping busy over the last few months. As we previously reported, construction of a new conservation center is in progress and our scientific director Dr. Mbangi worked with bonobo trackers to refresh their skills and improve their reporting. Construction is nearly complete, but we still need to put the finishing touches on the building. Next, we will focus on furnishing the new center and installing communications equipment.

Bonobo tracking teams have been diligently following bonobos in three target areas of Lilungu. Recently, the bonobos' movements among multiple forest blocks in search of seasonal foods have required trackers to travel greater distances to find them. Trackers often navigate the forest in the dark so they can find bonobos before they wake up from their night nests. Dr. Mbangi has praised the field team's diligence and we are now procuring solar-charged flashlights to help the trackers and to reduce the need for batteries. Deploying camera traps is also a future goal to supplement the trackers' observations.

We are also happy to announce that we have forged an exciting new partnership with Wild Forests and Fauna and their local partner, Congo Biotropical Institute. In April, our local partners at APBL (Association pour la Protection de Bonobo de Lilungu) conducted an outreach mission to two remote groupements in the Lilungu forest. The main goal was to secure approval for these new partners to begin biodiversity assessments using camera traps and recces. The communities were receptive. We look forward to proceeding with these collaborative efforts and can’t wait to gain more up-to-date knowledge throughout a broader conservation area.

We continue to work with the local communities and our new partners to expand our conservation efforts and to officially protect the Lilungu forest. The importance of this area for bonobo and biodiversity conservation cannot be overstated. With your help, we plan to keep the press on to achieve our goals!

As always, the progress that we have made is made possible by the generous support of donors like you! Thank you for standing with us.