Getting to see a bonobo in its natural habitat is  a rare and thrilling privilege;  there’s no way to truly capture being there, but as a start, I thought I’d share with you a video taken some months ago of a bonobo sighted in the research area.  I will try to share more videos when [...]

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It’s as if the spirit of Papa Bosco Ikwa is with us! After a long period of searching fruitlessly for bonobos, out with our tracking team we have located a group of 13 individuals — 4 males and 6 females carrying two juveniles and a baby. Bonobos are not like mountain gorillas, which live in [...]

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Construction of the Lomako Conservation Science Center – AWF’s new bonobo research and conservation station in the Congo Heartland – is complete! We’ve come so far for this day: 2 long years of working with local people and the Congolese wildlife authorities (ICCN) to gazette the Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve – the 3,600 sq km protected [...]

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I received this photo from Jef Dupain in the Congo Heartland. He says, “We are incorporating green practices into Lomako Center as much as possible. Because the Center is in the middle of the forest, it’s important that we have low impact. Plus it saves cost too. Bringing fuel and batteries and things all the [...]

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The Congo Heartland is buzzing in anticipation of the big opening of the Lomako Conservation Science Center (LCSC). A plane arrived in Basankusu with 2 tons of equipment, mainly solar panels. The panels will travel by motorized canoe to the forest for installation over next few days. The canoe will travel non-stop for an estimated [...]

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In November I went to the Congo Heartland in the DRC to help plan the opening of the new Lomako Conservation Science Center – an amazing research and conservation lab that is one of a kind: situated in the heart of the rainforest, 25 hours by boat from civilization, connected with satellite internet, and surrounded [...]

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I’m super excited to introduce the newest member of AWF’s Blog Team: Valentin Omasombo Wotoko from our Congo Heartland. Check out his blog: http://awf.org/bonoboblog Having spent the last two weeks in the field with Valentin, I think he is remarkable. He was key to the establishment of the Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve, works closely with the [...]

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The guides haven’t seen bonobos in about three months. But we went into the Lomako forest anyway and I thought at least we’ll get some good exercise and fresh rain forest air. Little did I know what I was in for. At the AWF bonobo research and conservation center in the Congo’s Lomako Reserve, scouts [...]

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Nothing starts your day like an angry mob at 7am. A group of fifty or so men are gathering outside the yard of the house we’re staying at. Things get heated – men begin shouting and waving their arms in frustration. They’re yelling in Lingala, so I look to Jef for help. He shrugs. “They [...]

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[Reporting from the Congo Heartland] We had clear skies and a cool temperature as we pushed our two giant wooden canoes (pirogues) off the bank into the Maringa River. The crowd that had gathered to watch us pack now waved and shouted, wishing us bon voyage. Two pirogues, 14 people, 16 cans of fuel, 12 [...]

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