Bonobo Love video. One species seems to have found the perfect method for keeping everyone in a state of total harmony.
Source: Nat Geo WILD
Bonobos and chimpanzees look very similar, and they both share 98.7% of their DNA with humans — making the two species our closest relatives. Bonobos are usually slightly smaller, leaner, and darker in color than chimpanzees. Their society is also different – bonobo groups tend to be more peaceful and led by women. They also maintain relationships and resolve conflicts through sex. However, bonobo life is not entirely free of violence; If two groups of bonobos combine, they can seriously fight.
Wild bonobos can only be found in the forests south of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Sometimes also known as bonobos, bonobos were not recognized as a separate species until 1929. As the last great ape to be scientifically described, much remains unknown about bonobos — including its entire geographical range. Species survey efforts over the past two decades have been hampered by the remote nature of their habitats, the patronage of their distribution, and years of civil unrest in the DRC.
Civil unrest and increasing poverty in the area around bonobo forests have contributed to bonobo poaching and deforestation. Although the size of the bonobo population is largely unknown, it has likely declined over the past 30 years. Scientists believe the decline will continue for the next 45 to 55 years due to bonobos’ low breeding rates and growing threats.
