Starting the new year off in Lilungu
Photo © Bonobo Conservation Initiative
Can you believe that we’re already three months into 2024? BCI and our partners at Lilungu were busy as 2023 came to a close and 2024 began. In late November, our DRC operations manager Bienvenu Mupenda, and scientific director Dr. Mbangi Mulavwa embarked on a two month field excursion to Lilungu. The aim of this trip was to oversee the construction of a new community conservation center, conduct additional training for our bonobo monitoring teams, and to collaborate with local partners and regional leadership regarding next steps.
Construction materials (cement, sheet metal, wheelbarrows, and other supplies) were transported by boat on the Tshuapa River and then overland by motorcycle to Lilungu—a process that took over three weeks. Imagine strapping several bags of cement to a dirt bike and then navigating the roughest trail you’ve ever seen! Our local drivers are incredible! These supplies supplemented locally made bricks and construction is well underway.
Photo © Bonobo Conservation Initiative
Dr. Mbangi worked with teams at each of our three sites where bonobos are monitored (Balanga, Lilungu, and Nongo). Forest excursions confirmed the presence of healthy bonobo populations in all three sites. At Balanga, where we’ve worked for the longest time, the bonobos were easily observed and comfortable with tracking teams (even responding to the whistle calls of the trackers). At the other sites, bonobos were a little more shy, and training focused on increasing their levels of habituation to human presence. Nevertheless, these bonobo groups are bold enough to regularly raid the villagers’ sugarcane fields! This is a positive sign, indicating that people and bonobos are co-existing. The Balanga people of Lilungu maintain ancestral traditions that respect and protect bonobos.
In addition to the work in the forest, the BCI delegation and local partners conducted community consultations and planning meetings to plot out next steps in securing legal protection of the forests of Lilungu. The most immediate priority is to complete construction of the conservation center, so that it can become fully operational.
As always, the progress that we have made has been because of the generous support of donors like you! Thank you for standing with us.
