Bonobos in the Mist

By Geoffrey Holland

The precious, irreplaceable biodiversity of life on Earth is collapsing. We humans are entirely responsible. A hundred years ago, there were about two billion humans on Earth. There weren’t enough of us to have lasting consequences. Now, in just a hundred years, the human population has grown massively; quadrupled to more than eight billion, with at least another two billion expected in the next few decades.  Our Earth has not gotten any larger. Our collective human demands are overwhelming our planet’s ability to provide.“

“We cannot navigate a new path while clinging to the old maps. Our planet’s systems are not infinitely resilient; they can be stretched only so far before they break.” - Donella Meadows, Lead Author, The Limits to Growth

There are about 500 primate animal species on Earth. Humans are one of them. The rest are our relatives. About 70% of those closest wild relatives to humans are endangered or threatened with extinction. Humans are entirely responsible. 

The Bonobo is a primate species indigenous to the mountain rainforests of the African Congo. Bonobos are unique among our primate relatives. Unlike humans and the other great ape species, all of which are male dominant, with bonobos, family groups are led by an elder matriarch. With males, social status is inherited from their mothers.

Studies show that bonobos display exceptional levels of empathy and cooperation. When choosing between keeping food for themselves or sharing with others, bonobos often decide to share. Their vocalizations and facial expressions are associated with complex socialization and communication. Their altruistic behavior helps maintain group cohesion.

A common way bonobos maintain peace among themselves is with pleasure. They are very active sexually, and not just for procreation. Among bonobos, when tensions rise, they often engage in affection, including embracing, grooming, and a broad range of sexual behavior that is not limited by age, sex, or status in the group. 

Genetically, bonobos may be our closest primate relatives. They share more than 98% of their DNA with humans.  

Like all primate species excepting humans, wild bonobos are threatened with extinction. The total remaining wild population is thought to be between 10,000 and 20,000.  Meanwhile, there are 8.3 billion of us humans, and we continue to add the equivalent of 25 cities the size of Chicago to our population every passing year.

Bonobos, like all of our Earth’s wild plants and animals, are massively stressed by growing human populations. It’s more than just taking over bonobo habitat and converting it to logging, or agriculture, or some other human use. There are some indigenous people who still hunt bonobos as a food resource called bushmeat, and some bonobos are poached as babies for the pet trade.

The future of the bonobo as a much valued part of the biodiverse fabric of our planet is uncertain at best.

“When we protect the forests that shelter bonobos, we’re not just saving one remarkable species—we’re preserving entire ecosystems and the intricate web of life they sustain.” - Jane Goodall, Primatologist, Iconic Cultural Voice

A Bonobo Story That Inspires

Fortunately, there are good people, who are committed to achieving a lasting future for the bonobo and the diversity of creatures that share its mountain forest habitat in the African Congo.

About 20 kilometers from Kinshasa, capitol of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary. Its focus is on rescuing and rehabilitating orphan bonobos and, when possible, returning them to their natural habitat.

“Every acre of rainforest saved for bonobos safeguards a sanctuary for thousands of species, many yet unknown to science. Protecting bonobos is protecting life itself.”

Claudine Andre, Founder, Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary 

There is also the 117,000 acre, Ekolo ya Bonobo Community Reserve in the Congo. Managed in partnership with local communities, the reserve’s mission is to provide sustainable wild habitat for bonobos, while involving local people in habitat protection.

The World Wildlife Funa, Friends of Bonobos, and other conservation groups are also involved in efforts to assure a future for wild bonobos.

“The survival of species like the bonobo is a barometer of the health of the Earth’s great forests. Their protection ensures that the magnificent tapestry of biodiversity remains intact for future generations.” - E.O. Wilson, Founder, Half-Earth Project

The Lesson for Humanity

Humans are the most consequential lifeform on our planet. We are wedded to cultural overreach. We have put our biosphere in crisis. Our extreme exploitation is shredding the biodiverse fabric of our Earth. We humans are responsible. We are the ones that must change. We must find the best in ourselves. Let the bonobos peaceful and empathic nature be inspiration for what humans can and must become.

Our Earth is sick from extreme human exploitation. The challenges we face are massive and global in scale. With cooperation and commitment from all of humanity, we can come correct course. We can achieve the best kind of future for life on Earth.

The bonobo’s altruistic behavior offers a powerful mirror for all humans. In a world often marked by conflict and inequality, bonobos show that an alternative way of being—one rooted in cooperation, compassion, and harmony—is possible. Bonobos live in balance with each other and their environment. They settle disputes without violence. They are wired to nurture deep community bonds.

If bonobos disappear, the world will lose not only a species but a living example of how peace can prevail over aggression. Saving Bonobos is not just about protecting a closely-related species. It’s also embracing the deeper lesson they offer about the value of empathy, cooperation, and living lightly upon the Earth.

As the most consequential species on Earth, humans must step up. We must come together. We must act sufficiently and in time to assure there will still be wild Bonobos in the Mist in the decades and centuries to come.

“Protecting the habitats of keystone species like bonobos strengthens the entire chain of life, preserving critical biodiversity and the natural services that sustain humanity.” – Convention on Biological Diversity