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Bonobos
are humankind's closest relatives, along with chimpanzees, yet most people don't even know that bonobos exist! They live only in one country: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Bonobos were last great ape species to be discovered, and could be the first to go extinct if we do not act quickly to save them and their rainforest home. Bonobos stand apart from the other great apes in fascinating and important ways. But perhaps the most compelling aspect of bonobos is their society ... [More]
The Bonobo Conservation Initiative
 (BCI) is dedicated to ensuring the survival of the bonobo (Pan paniscus) and its tropical forest habitat in the Congo Basin. By working with indigenous Congolese people through cooperative conservation and community development programs, as well as on the national and international levels, BCI is establishing new protected areas and leading efforts to safeguard bonobos wherever they are found. [More]
Bonobos inhabit the heart of the Congo Basin, the second largest rainforest on earth, of critical importance to the health of the planet. The vast equatorial rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo are under increasing threat. Along with creating new community-based reserves, BCI is currently spearheading efforts to convert 1.4 million hectares of unexploited logging concessions to conservation in the Bonobo Peace Forest. [More]
BCI recognized for excellence in the Catalogue of Philanthropy.
"Charities were selected for excellence, innovation, and cost-effectiveness--and for what they can teach us about the extraordinary ways that philanthropy works," said Barbara Harman, Executive Director of the Harman Family Foundation. "These are certainly among the best..."
ADOPT A BONOBO
Make a difference-give the gift of bonobo conservation today! Adopt a bonobo for yourself or as a gift and help BCI continue its work to save the bonobos. Your adoption will directly support efforts in creating new protected areas to safeguard bonobos, rescuing bonobos that have been orphaned or captured, and supporting dedicated rangers and monitoring teams.
You can help!
The clock is ticking for bonobos and their rainforest home. You can help now by making a secure donation on-line that will directly support bonobo protection at key sites throughout the habitat and help to empower our Congolese partners on the front lines of this vital work.
In The News: Champion of a Forest Sanctuary
"A huge forest sanctuary may save thousands of these gentle, sexy apes within their home. They have found their perfect champion in the BCI and Sally Coxe." - Frans de Waal, director Living Links Center, Emory University [Read the article!]
TIME Magazine: Eden for the Peaceful Apes
“Of all our primate kin, none fascinate us like the sociable, sexual bonobo. Conservationists fear for the species’ survival, but an answer may have been found in one of the most war-torn parts of the world…” [See Photo Essay!], [Read the article!]
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BREAKING NEWS!
Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve officially established!
Innovative community reserve protects more than 1,000 bonobos
Situated in the heart of the Congo Basin rainforest, the Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve harbors one of the largest known wild populations of the endangered bonobo. It is one of the only sites where free-living bonobos are habituated to human presence and can be viewed and studied on a daily basis. Encompassing 1,847 mi2 (4,875 km2), an area slightly larger than Rhode Island, the new community-based reserve delivers essential ecosystem services to the world and benefits the local people through education, employment and sustainable economic development.
"Since the time of our ancestors, our people, the Bongando, have traditionally protected and respected bonobos…as our closest relative and friend,” says Albert Lotana Lokasola of Vie Sauvage, BCI’s local partner organization who initiated the project. [Learn More]
Kokolopori and Falls Church, Virginia celebrate the first Sister City Partnership between the DRC and the USA!
Our communities have unique lessons to teach one another, and each can open a window into another culture. We can learn from the Mongandu land ethic and their community spirit, and by sharing our friendship, skills, resources and networks, we can help the people of Kokolopori increase their livelihood options and economic security.
“I hope Falls Church’s model of global citizenship will inspire other American towns to bond with communities in the DRC.” - Ambassador William Garvelink, US Ambassador to the DRC
learn more - Kokolopori-Falls Church Sister City Partnership
Mama & Papa Bonobo featured in National Geographic article
"BCI has confounded classic conservation models by basing decisions on indigenous knowledge and using local social structures to spread awareness."
– National Geographic International Edition (2008) [Read article]
Urgent Appeal from Lac Tumba
There is still much to learn about where bonobos live and how many remain in their natural habitat. In 2002, towards the end the war in the DRC, BCI and CREF researchers were convinced that bonobos might live in the Lac Tumba region, and set out to prove it. BCI found that the people of Lac Tumba were fighting the encroachment of logging companies and bushmeat hunting-a leading threat to bonobos. We now have signed agreements with three local communities and monitoring teams are working daily to protect bonobos that live in their forests. [Read more]
“So , Sodefor Company beginning activities in the surrounding forest, can never be authorized to realize its destroyer activities against the plans of BCI which is helping us organize our community reserve…..”
[See original letter from the people of Mbie Mokeli]
With minimal resources, BCI has been helping the people of Mbie Mokeli protect their forests in the Lac Tumba region, but they cannot do it alone. A logging company is quickly encroaching. Help us support their efforts to protect bonobos and their rainforest home.[Donate Now]
Quick link to BCI highlights:
Kokolopori-Falls Church Sister City Partnership
Bikes for Bonobos!
Forest Protected from Loggers
Bonobos survive the war at Lilungu.
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