Baby Bonobos: Our Cute Little Relatives

Found only in the Democratic Republic of The Congo, the Bonobo is an endangered species of primate thought to be one of the closest living relatives of humans. In fact, bonobos share 97% of the DNA that makes up humans, and they even share similar behaviors when it comes to social interaction and breeding. The bonobo is also thought to have evolved from common ancestors of the chimpanzee, which is why it’s often referred to as the “pygmy chimpanzee” or the “dwarf chimpanzee”. The bonobo’s tremendous climbing ability leaves it with few natural predators, but the species has been thinned because of civil unrest in their home country and humans hunting them for their meat. Bonobos are known to live in troops which are run by an alpha male and protected by the group staying close during feeding times. Much like humans, bonobos have a gestation period of about 8 months and only give birth to one baby at a time. This baby is nursed and cared for until it is between 3 and 6 years old, with females usually achieving independence before males. Once on its own, the bonobo has a lifespan of about 40 years. At this point, there are less than 10,000 bonobos in existence worldwide, with that fact in mind, conservation efforts are currently in high gear as humans attempt to conserve and protect our close relative.