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Top 10 Mountain Gorilla Facts | Animal Fun Facts | WWF

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Top 10 Orangutan Facts | Animal Fun Facts | WWF

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Chimpanzees for Kids | Learn all about this intelligent primate

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Gorilla Facts for Kids | Animal Science Lesson Video

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Gorillas are charismatic, intelligent, and in danger. Learn more and help WWF fight habitat destruction and poaching of our ape cousins.

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Protect endangered species, including the orangutan, at World Wildlife Fund. Learn about the ways WWF works to conserve a future where people live in harmony with nature.

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Zamzoom et Orbie se dirigent dans la forêt tropicale afin de rencontrer les plus proches cousins des humains sur Terre : les chimpanzés.

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Le savais-tu ? 6 infos sur les orangs-outans

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Jane Goodall Story for Kids | Women's History Made Easy

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The bonobo, along with the chimpanzee, is the closest living relative to humans. It is an ape related to the gorilla and the orangutan, as well as the chimpanzee. All these animals are called great apes because they are large and very intelligent. Bonobos and other great apes belong to the larger group of mammals called the primates. The primates also include other apes, humans, and monkeys.

Bonobos can be found in only one area of the world. They live in rainforests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country in Africa. They are highly endangered, or at risk of dying out completely. Humans have hunted them and destroyed much of their habitat.

Bonobos look very similar to chimpanzees. They have black hair. Adult male bonobos are larger than the females. Adult males may be almost 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall. They may weigh as much as 134 pounds (61 kilograms). Bonobos do not have a tail, but they have a tuft of white fur where a tail would be.

Bonobos eat mostly fruits. Sometimes they eat leaves, seeds, and even small animals. They spend the day feeding in trees, resting, and traveling on the ground to other trees. They also can swing from tree branch to tree branch with their arms. Bonobos build leafy beds in trees to sleep in at night.

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The bonobo, along with the chimpanzee, is the closest living relative to humans. It is an ape related to the gorilla and the orangutan, as well as the chimpanzee. All these...

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Welcome to the new A to Z Eco-Explorer, a series where we explore one environmental subject corresponding to each letter of the alphabet. In today's article, we take a look at the bonobos. Also known as the pygmy chimpanzees, bonobos are part of the family of great apes and are found exclusively in the forests south of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Previously, they were considered a subspecies of chimpanzees before being recognized as a separate species in - 1929. Read on to learn more about this brilliant species.
1. Our closest relatives

When asked to name a species most genetically related to humans, you would probably think of the chimpanzees. You are right - but only partially! Chimpanzees share about of their DNA with humans, but they are not the only ones to do so.

Bonobos also share approximately the same percentage of their DNA with humans, making them - along with the chimpanzees - one of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom. This genetic similarity enables scientists worldwide to study and gain further insights into the origins of human evolution, behavior, and language.

2. Fantastic female-led primates

Bonobos are widely known for living in a matriarchal community. This means females hold significant influence and power within a troop (a group of bonobos). Despite being physically smaller than males, the females form strong bonds with one another and often cooperate to maintain social order and resolve conflicts. This unique social structure sets bonobos apart from many other primate species, even their close cousins, the chimpanzees, which are aggressive and patriarchal - with an alpha male leading their group.

But did you know bonobos still have an within their troop? Unlike in other species of the animal kingdom, the alpha avoids attempting to dominate the females and steps in to make decisions and protect his group when necessary, much like a military general.

3. Playful yet clever!

Bonobos, both young and adults, are highly creatures. They love to wrestle and chase, and just like humans, they also tend to laugh and giggle when tickled. But despite their enthusiastic nature, they are one of the most remarkably intelligent primates alive. For example, , a 43-year-old bonobo, made history as the smartest great ape in the world - apart from humans, of course!

As an infant, Kanzi accompanied his adoptive mother, Matata, for her training sessions with Dr. Sue Savage-Rumbaugh, a psychologist and primatologist (a person who studies primates) who taught Matata to use and communicate through a keyboard with , a set of symbols used to represent specific words and objects. While Matata showed no interest in learning, Kanzi picked up the skills taught through observation. With continued training and assessments, Kanzi could understand the meaning of up to 3,000 words, making him the first great ape to develop an understanding of spoken English. How cool is that right?

4. Masters of empathy

Unlike chimps, which are cunning and competitive, bonobos are kind and when sharing their meals. Various studies also highlight the empathetic nature of bonobos. In one experiment , a bonobo was allowed to eat alone or share its plate of favourite fruits with its neighbour. Surprisingly, the bonobo decided to split its meal with its neighbour. To further investigate this behaviour, the same experiment was repeated but with the addition of another bonobo, which was a stranger to the bonobo with food. Again, the bonobo did not hesitate to share its portion with its neighbour and the stranger.

In another interesting , scientists discovered that bonobos are also willing to help others obtain food even if they know they would not get to share it. Their innate ability to understand others is what makes bonobos one of the most peace-loving primates in the world.

5. Endangered marvels of Congo

Sadly, bonobos remain among the least studied and protected great ape species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed bonobos as "Endangered". Their population is declining rapidly due to low reproduction rates and human-caused threats like hunting and deforestation . That is why organisations like Friends of Bonobos , The Bonobo Conservation Initiative and the Ape Initiative are actively taking steps to ensure the survival of bonobos and their habitats. For instance, the Friends of Bonobos initiative in the DRC has reintroduce groups of bonobos back into the wild and provide care and refuge for those orphaned by illegal poaching.
Check this out next: A for Amazon Pink River Dolphin: 6 Fascinating Facts About This Endangered Species
Bonus Fact: An Impressive Survival Trait

Bonobos possess an amazing trait to survive in the wild known as self-medication . Scientifically known as zoopharmacognosy, this behavior involves eating things, often with medicinal properties, to prevent diseases and help with digestion. Bonobos have been seen swallowing stems or leaves of a plant, which is not part of their usual diet, called Manniophyton fulvum. This practice was able to help them cure parasites in their system. Did you know scientists have also observed similar behaviour in other species like elephants, lizards, chimpanzees and more?

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5 Fun Facts About Bonobos - Earth.Org Kids

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In We take a look at some fun facts about Bonobos, apes found exclusively in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

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The bonobo, Pan paniscus, is a great ape and the smaller of the two species making up the genus (the other is Pan troglodytes, the common chimpanzee). The bonobo is sometimes called the dwarf or pygmy chimpanzee. Although the name "chimpanzee" is sometimes used to refer to both species together, it is usually understood to mean the common chimpanzee, while Pan paniscus is usually referred to as the bonobo.

The bonobo lives in rain forest, in a 500,000 km ² (190,000 sq mi) area south of the Congo River. This is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa.

Bonobos are matriarchal and a male's rank in the social hierarchy is often determined by his mother's rank.

The two chimpanzee species are separated by the huge Congo River. Its formation 1.5-2 million years ago may have led to the speciation of the bonobo. Their population is between 29,000 and 50,000 individuals. The species is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is threatened by habitat destruction, human population growth and commercial poaching. The bonobo lives for about 40 years in captivity, though its lifespan in the wild is unknown.

Images for kids

Bonobos Kanzi (C) and Panbanisha (R) with Sue Savage-Rumbaugh and the outdoor symbols "keyboard"

Bonobo ( Pan paniscus) mother and infant at Lola ya Bonobo

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The bonobo, Pan paniscus, is a great ape and the smaller of the two species making up the genus (the other is Pan troglodytes, the common chimpanzee). The bonobo is sometimes called the dwarf or pygmy chimpanzee.

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Bonobo - Vikidia, l’encyclopédie des 8-13 ans

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Le chimpanzé pygmée, ou bonobo est un grand singe d’Afrique. Plus petit que son cousin, le chimpanzé commun, il s’en distingue notamment par ses lèvres roses. Comme lui, c’est un proche parent de l’homme : il fait partie de la famille des hominidés, et du genre Pan, les Chimpanzés.

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Quiz für Kinder über Bonobos - WWF Panda Club

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Wo leben Bonobos, und wo bauen sie sich ihre Nester zum Schlafen? Warum sind Bonobos bedroht? Ein Quiz für Kinder vom Panda Club des WWF.

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Der WWF setzt sich dafür ein, dass sich alle an die Gesetze halten. Er hilft mit, Wildhüter:innen auszubilden und auszurüsten. Diese arbeiten in Nationalparks und Schutzgebieten. Sie sorgen dafür, dass niemand trotz Verbot Gorillas und andere Wildtiere jagt. Gleichzeitig zieht der WWF die Bevölkerung mit ein und hilft ihnen, andere Möglichkeiten zu finden, um Geld zu verdienen.

Ausserdem macht der WWF Druck auf grosse Firmen, die den Lebensraum von Gorillas nutzen wollen, zum Beispiel, um nach Erdöl zu bohren.

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Gorillas sind neben den Bonobos und den Schimpansen unsere nächsten Verwandten. Informationen über Gorillas im Panda-Club-Tierlexikon des WWF.

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Les femelles orangs-outans ont un bébé environ tous les quatre à six ans.

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L’orang-outan est le seul grand singe vivant en Asie. Découvre cette espèce dans le ZooDico du Panda Club WWF.

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Chimpanzé - Vikidia, l'encyclopédie des 8-13 ans

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" Chimpanzé " expliqué aux enfants par Vikidia, l'encyclopédie junior