Meet Lenda
Lenda and Lombo, a Little Pair
Lenda, like many other orphaned bonobos rescued by Lola ya Bonobo, was confiscated by authorities in the Sankuru region – a hotspot for wildlife trafficking and poaching for bushmeat. She was rescued around the same time as Lombo, another young victim of the illegal wildlife trade. Both faced the trauma of losing their entire family.
When Dr. Jonas, Lola veterinarian, arrived to carry out the rescue mission, both Lenda and Lombo were in bad shape. Lenda was full of parasites, extremely pale, and had a very swollen belly. She was also suffering from a mouth infection, which is a sign of exceptionally low immunity.
Lombo looked to be about 2 years old and was full of parasites. He had a respiratory infection and wounds on his hips from a rope that poachers used to tie him up.
Lenda and Lombo cuddled close to each other and Dr. Jonas throughout the rescue journey as they made their long way to the safety of Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary.
Better with Time
Lenda was initially paired with Mama Mimie and received some extra TLC from Suzy. She was later paired with Surrogate Mama Micheline, a very experienced caregiver at Lola.
Lenda was shy and nervous when others approached, but gradually became more open, and quite vocal! Her favorite spot in those days was up on her mama’s shoulder.
Lenda’s health improved day by day. Although she was a bit picky at first, she adapted to eating new fruits and milk to help her gain the weight and nutrients she needs to be healthy.
Thriving in the Nursery
Lenda has grown and thrived in the nursery. She has made lots of friends, but her favorite playmate is often still Lombo. As they’ve grown to more than 5 years old, they’ve gotten bold about leaving their surrogate mothers to climb and explore the highest reaches of the nursery.
Their next step is a big one – to one of three forested enclosures at Lola, where they will join older bonobos, form new bonds and alliances, and continue their education on how to live in the wild.
Video: Lombo and Lenda are fearless, playing and swinging together on the high ropes in the nursery.
Kendra is a creative problem-solver who provides executive and operational support across the organization. As Executive Assistant to Ariel Rogers, she manages scheduling, communications, and day-to-day priorities while also supporting the development and communications teams with administrative and operational needs.
Kathleen Cook brings more than nine years of experience working across Africa, with a focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo, where she has traveled over twenty times to support projects spanning conservation, clean energy, and community development. Her career has centered around using storytelling, strategic marketing, and relationship-building to create meaningful impact.
