Conservationists Partner for Bonobo Conservation in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) in partnership with the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature, the Arcus Foundation and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has convened a year-long strategic planning process involving major conservation organizations working to conserve bonobos (Pan paniscus) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The bonobo is one of several species of great apes that include chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. Bonobos are found only in remote forests of the Western DRC and exhibit distinctive social behaviors from their chimpanzee cousins. The challenges confronting bonobo conservation stem not only from direct threats of illegal hunting, habitat loss and disease but also from indirect threats. Successful bonobo conservation is limited by institutional weakness, lack of coordination of conservation activities and civil insecurity.
The strategic planning process will culminate with a 4-day workshop in Kinshasa, DRC, January 19-23, 2011. The meeting will benefit from coordination by the IUCN
The bonobo is one of several species of great apes that include chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. Bonobos are found only in remote forests of the Western DRC and exhibit distinctive social behaviors from their chimpanzee cousins. The challenges confronting bonobo conservation stem not only from direct threats of illegal hunting, habitat loss and disease but also from indirect threats. Successful bonobo conservation is limited by institutional weakness, lack of coordination of conservation activities and civil insecurity.
The strategic planning process will culminate with a 4-day workshop in Kinshasa, DRC, January 19-23, 2011. The meeting will benefit from coordination by the IUCN
