Protecting Bonobos and Rainforest at Ekolo Reserve

Rescuing and caring for orphans at Lola ya Bonobo is a critical part of saving bonobos from extinction.

But did you know your support does a whole lot more?

To keep our amazing ape cousins safe for the long term, we also must protect their habitat in Democratic Republic of Congo. After they are rehabilitated, the bonobos of Lola should be able return to the wild -- where they belong.

That's where Ekolo ya Bonobo Community Reserve comes in.

Ekolo is a 120,000-acre protected rainforest in Équateur Province. Because of donor support, our team in Congo has rewilded bonobos there twice! More than 30 bonobos and their offspring live in the protected area.

To create this very special place for bonobos, we worked closely with the communities living nearby, as well as government officials. Local residents remain key partners in Ekolo’s management.

Lisala and her baby Lokumu at Ekolo ya Bonobo Community Reserve.

Click the image to explore the area on Google Maps.

The reserve started at 17,000 acres, expanded over the years, and was officially recognized in 2019. It’s the first provincial-level protected area in DRC, created by Congolese people, for Congolese people.

A Year of Progress and Rebuilding

Thanks to many committed donors, all of these things happened at Ekolo in the last year!

• New forest guards joined the team and received extensive training.
• A new school wing was dedicated in the Baenga community.
• Survey teams mapped boundaries for expansion of the reserve.
• A camera trap study documented species being protected in Ekolo along with the bonobos.
• Our staff began rebuilding facilities lost in last summer’s unrest and fires.
• And more...!

Please stay tuned over the next few weeks to learn more about the comprehensive conservation efforts your donations support!



As always, the bonobos send their love.

From all of us at Friends of Bonobos / Les Amis des Bonobos

Committed to Good Stewardship

Friends of Bonobos is recognized for efficient and effective use of funds.

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