Some of our closest living relatives, the bonobos, are increasingly becoming orphaned or kept as pets due to the illegal bushmeat trade. But the primates find refuge in the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the only sanctuary for orphaned bonobos. In this picture, two bonobo orphans interact with each other in an attempt to comfort each other.
If bonobos are orphaned at a young age, just like with us humans, this also affects their psyche and they can develop trauma. However, they can overcome these traumas, as a research team led by Stephanie Kordon from Durham University has discovered. Rehabilitation in the sanctuary and social contact with other orphaned bonobos help them improve their social and emotional skills. “The Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary does important work to protect this endangered species,” explains Kordon. “Although the social development of orphans does not correspond to that of their counterparts raised by mothers, their development and behavior overlap.”
Bonobos are known for their distinctive social behavior, as the photo shows. They live in larger communities of just over 100 animals, which are divided into smaller groups. Bonobos are considered particularly peaceful and resolve tensions with sexual interactions, grooming each other and playing with each other. Orphaned bonobos show less empathy than those who are not orphaned, but they still care for their fellow bonobos. This shows that, despite their trauma, they have basic social skills that can help them get along in a group, as the researchers explain. After their stay at the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary, some of the primates will be released back into the wild. Then it is important that they also find contact with other animals in the wild.