Welcome baby bonobo Avocat

Say hello to Avocat, the newest addition to the Kokolopori bonobos!

Mom Azur welcomed this bouncing baby boy in June. Both mother and infant are thriving—and are receiving lots of attention from some of the other Ekalakala bonobos. Bonobo mothers are famously protective, but that doesn’t stop curious juveniles in the group from trying to sneak a peek or a cuddle. We are sure that Avocat will find lots of friends among his fellow bonobos.

Avocat’s pool of potential playmates extends beyond the Ekalakala group. You may remember that researchers in the Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve recently published their findings about complex group interactions between bonobos in the Yetee forest. Four different groups come together to socialize, share food, and look for love. That’s up to eighty individuals! Harvard researcher Lillian Fornof remarked, “It’s surreal. It’s like being in a city of bonobos.” There’s one young female bonobo who seems to be particularly popular. We’ll let you know if we hear of any other little bonobos on the way...

There is some sad news, though. Another baby who was born around the same time as Avocat did not survive. His brief time serves as a reminder that bonobo life is precious and precarious. Bonobos only produce one offspring every four or five years, and bonobo mothers who experience a loss don’t always bounce back quickly. That’s why it’s so important that we protect the bonobo population and the habitat that they need to survive. 

Your generous support gives Avocat and all the bonobos in the Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve a chance for a happy, healthy future.