The Bonobos

Biologically speaking, bonobo monkeys are more closely related to humans than they are to gorillas: they share 98% of our DNA! Dwelling only in the equatorial forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa, these highly intelligent and sensitive creatures display many traits similar to humans.

In contrast to the competitive, male-dominated culture of their close relative the chimpanzee, bonobo society is peaceful, matriarchal and egalitarian. Bonobos live in large groups where harmonious coexistence is the norm. Their "make love, not war" way of living could be said to more closely resemble a 1960's hippie commune than an animal society.

Unfortunately, the wild bonobo population is severely threatened at this time and in need of protected areas to survive. The Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI) is a non-profit (USA: 501-c3) organization based in Washington, D.C. and the Democratic Republic of the Congo whose mission is to promote conservation of the bonobo and its tropical forest habitat in the Congo Basin.

To honor the creature from whom we derived our name and support these conservation efforts, Webonobo has adopted a bonobo in the wild. For more information and to join this important cause, contact the Bonobo Conservation Initiative.