Bonobo conservation at Ekolo ya Bonobo is not only about saving bonobos- it also supports the environment and the local communities who live in and now manage the forests where the bonobos live.
Investing in the communities of Ekolo ya Bonobo not only supports people, it also supports the bonobos, many other species, the rainforest and the planet.
Education is one of the most important ways your donations contribute to bonobo conservation.
In recent years, the educational programs at Lola ya Bonobo have expanded to Ekolo ya Bonobo. Education is critical to reducing the threats to bonobos by raising awareness and appreciation for bonobos, especially among citizens who live in areas where bonobos are heavily trafficked.

Some of the educational activities at Ekolo:
• Presentations in schools and villages surrounding the reserve, as well as the district capital, Basankusu
• Screening of educational films on bonobo and bushmeat trafficking in schools and villages surrounding the reserve and Basankusu
• Regular radio broadcast on bonobos, the environment, and the project, on both of the two local radio stations
• Education of spontaneous visitors - people traveling the Lopori River who observe the released bonobos
Research and Monitoring

Each month, teams of trackers spend 20 days surveying Ekolo to monitor its biodiversity and report their observations back at camp; generating important data that is used to study the long term effects of conservation efforts at Ekolo ya Bonobo.

Recently, members of our team found evidence of hippos in the community nature reserve. Like bonobos, hippos are endangered and their presence in the wild is a positive sign for the biodiversity of the forest.
Lola ya Bonobo assists people who live in the villages surrounding Ekolo with a number of projects aimed at socio-economic development in their communities.

Thanks to your support, Lola ya Bonobo has helped provide desks and supplies for schools, electricity and solar powered fridges for medical clinics, technical training for fish farming, and much more.
Community Development is critical to achieving successful conservation that benefits both wildlife and people.
Lola ya Bonobo and Ekolo ya Bonobo employ over 60 Congolese people and regularly hire local villagers for construction and other jobs. In addition to these immediate socio-economic benefits, communities also benefit from ecotourism. This is already the case at Lola ya Bonobo and will be true for Ekolo ya Bonobo as the reserve continues to expand its protected area programs.
Residents of the reserve will explain that bonobos are the only 100% Congolese ape, and they are incredibly proud of their contribution to their protection.
Thank you for your time and attention! As always, your support is the backbone of everything we do to save and protect bonobos.
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