Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary cares for endangered bonobo ape orphans
Lola ya Bonobo’s surrogate mothers have their hands full with nearly a dozen bonobo orphans to nurture right now. So far this year, eight new endangered bonobo apes have arrived, joining the crew of young orphans already in the nursery.
Some of the newcomers were in critical condition – tiny, malnourished, and injured. Nearly all are making good progress. Sadly, one precious little female, 1½-year-old Walikale, was in a severely weakened state and survived only a short time.
At one point, all of Lola’s quarantine huts were occupied. This is where the orphans receive intensive one-on-one care from their human surrogate mothers. The quarantine period protects the nursery bonobos from exposure to illnesses the new arrivals may be carrying. It also gives the newcomers a quieter environment for healing and time for the baby and its surrogate mother to form a close bond, a critical need for survival.
Lubutu Was Barely Alive
Lubutu, a young male, was found motherless in Tshuapa Province, over 1,300 miles from Kinshasa. He is estimated to be 4 years old, but looks much smaller because of his poor health. He arrived at Lola on Aug. 22 in alarming condition: listless, dehydrated, and suffering from hair loss and rickets due to severe malnutrition.
He was at death’s door.
At Lola, Lubutu received urgent medical care beginning with a rehydrating formula, administered slowly and carefully. In the loving arms of his surrogate mother, Mama C’Arrive, he is fighting to survive. With her attention and the expertise of Lola’s veterinarians, Lubutu is gradually gaining strength.
A few months later, he was awake, alert, and eager to take his bottle. Thanks to the tenderness and constant care of Maman C’Arrive, he is coming back to life, day by day.
Tiny Sange
Sange arrived at Lola on Aug. 1, 2025. A tiny male barely 10 months old, he had only a few teeth. Robbed of his mother at a very young age, he would not have survived without the constant care and attention of the Lola ya Bonobo team.
Since his arrival, Sange has gradually regained his zest for life thanks to Mama Méritha, who feeds him, comforts him, and teaches him to regain confidence. He is doing well, but he remains delicate. His survival depends on consistent care.
Tshela, Scared and Sad
Tshela arrived at Lola ya Bonobo on Sept. 3, 2025 from Sankuru Province with infected wounds and multiple scars.
A female about 3 years old, her sad, resigned expression bore witness to the immense suffering she has endured.
Mama Peguy ensures she gets milk, food, comfort and a feeling of safety and security. With the tender care of the entire team of mothers and veterinarians, Tshela is beginning to recover from her traumatic start in life and is starting to enjoy climbing.
Kenge, Too Weak to Cling to Mama
Kenge, a little male barely a year old, arrived at Lola on April 20, 2025. He had only eight teeth, couldn’t walk, and was too weak to cling to his surrogate mother.
Mama Niclette, who has nurtured many very ill bonobos, immediately took him under her care, providing warmth, comfort, food, and security. Each day he gets a little better.
When Sange and Lubutu arrived at Lola in August, Lola ran out of space in quarantine, so Kenge had to transfer to the nursery a bit too soon.
He’s still too young to keep up with the other babies in the nursery, and he trusts only Mama Niclette, who has barely had a moment of rest since his arrival.
Kamina, Kept Illegally as a Pet
Kamina was rescued in Lodja, where she had been illegally kept as a pet. She was around 3 years old when she arrived at Lola this spring. Mama Gladys is her surrogate mother.
Kamina is a very quick and active young bonobo who enjoys venturing high up in the trees.
The flood of bonobos orphans continued.
In October and November Friends of Bonobos of Congo rescued two more bonobo orphans!
After a few days she began to vocalize – a good sign – and began to show an attachment to her surrogate Mama Huguette.
Fortunately her surrogate mother is watching over her, supported 24/7 by our veterinary team.
While we are grateful we’re able to care for these orphans, sadly, every rescue begins as a tragedy. It means as many as 10 other bonobos have been lost to poachers, evidence of the deep peril of this endangered species.
When these newcomers are healthy and ready to leave quarantine, they will move to the nursery. There they will make friends with other young orphans including Mwenge, Kamina, Ikoto, Lenda and Lombo.
Let’s take a look at a few they will meet in the the bonobo nursery!
Lombo and Lenda, Fearless Friends
Lombo and Lenda arrived to Lola around the same time almost two years ago, coming from a hotspot for wildlife trafficking and poaching for bushmeat: Sankuru Province.
Lombo looked to be about 2 years old and was full of parasites. He had a severe respiratory illness and wounds on his hips from a rope that poachers used to tie him up. He was timid and subdued. Lenda was nervous, full of parasites, and eating poorly.
As they have healed and grown in the nursery, the pair have been inseparable. Watch the video to see how far they have come. You would hardly know them today!
A Long Journey Begun
Bonobos can remain in the nursery two to five years, with the team of surrogate mothers providing daily care and guiding their social and emotional development.
After the nursery, another big change awaits the young bonobos. They will transfer to one of three spacious, forested enclosures at Lola. In these semi-wild space they join older bonobos, form new bonds and alliances, and continue their education on how to live in the wild.
