HOPE report

Number:19-064

A study on the development of social behavior in captive bonobos

Report:Yasuko Tashiro

Date:2007/12/21 - 2008/01/16

I studied the social behavior of bonobos at Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary, Democratic Republic of the Congo, from December 2007 to January 2008. Focal individuals included six infants (0-2 years old) and their mothers. I recorded the behavior of focal animals, especially social interactions between the focal individuals and other group members, using a video camera. I also recorded participants involved in, and patterns of, genito-genital contact. Infants tended to move farther from their mothers compared to similar data taken on the same group of bonobos in February 2007. Infants also began to actively perform genito-genital contact with others. These data will be analyzed to help elucidate the development of social interaction and the effects of genito-genital contact in their society.

The enclosure of "Lola ya Bonobo" Sanctuary


A female bonobo plays with her baby


Bonobos on a bridge

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