Conservation of the endangered bonobo

7/31/2024

Did you know seven of our closest living relatives are located right here in Des Moines? No, it’s not your favorite uncle or grandpa. Instead, it’s bonobos — a great ape species.   

The apes are part of the Ape Initiative, a nonprofit located in Des Moines dedicated to the conservation of the endangered bonobo. Bonobo species are the most closely related to humans, sharing 98.7 percent of our DNA.

The Ape Institute was formed in 2013 by Des Moines businessman Ted Townsend as an effort to rescue the bonobos, which originally arrived in 2005. He established a facility called the Great Ape Trust.

The bonobos were in financial and physical trouble. Sara Skiba, Ph.D. and director of communications at the Ape Initiative, says it was a rescue mission. 

“The Ape Initiative was on a rescue mission to take care of the bonobos,” she recalls. “Our first goal was to standardize care of the bonobos.”

One 43-year-old ape, Kanzi, was on an unhealthy diet and lost 80 pounds eating an appropriate diet. Kanzi is also one of the first bonobos to understand spoken English.

The Ape Initiative is not open to the public. Instead, its facility works with local schools, education groups and researchers to provide immersive science experience.

The first aspect offers elementary class visits for students. Students visit the facility and can meet the bonobos up close. 

A second aspect offers immersive research experiences for high school and college students to help them develop critical thinking skills. Skiba says the bonobos are engaging, which helps foster student interest in STEM. 

“These programs are for high school students who are typically underserved, such as the first person in their family to attend school or further education,” she explains. “Kids come here for research then make presentations to local science competitions.” 

Presentations help promote conservation of bonobos. Most are found in the Congo River Basin in Africa. Habitat destruction, along with bushmeat trade, made the species endangered.  

“There are about 15,000-20,000 left in the wild,” Skiba said. “Illegal pet trades have caused near-extinctions.”

Bonobos are not forced to do experiments. 

“We use observation for behavior. They get to choose what they want to do,” she says. “Sometimes they’ll use a stick to get yogurt out of a tube.”

Researchers form relationships with the bonobos. 

“We did a study that shows they remember social partners for years. If researchers have gone out of town, they come back and behave differently among those they know. They’re very smart. It reflects how complicated they are.” 

The Ape Initiative hopes to eventually allow future visits not just with students or researchers. 

“Our facility is currently not designed for the public and safe interaction,” Skiba explains. “Someday, we hope to have a larger outdoor area, which can allow us to connect with more people.” 

Skiba says protecting the habitat is vital. 

“Des Moines is the only bonobo research place in the world to endangered species. Human activity is a threat to the population. For us, getting to connect with the natural world is the only way to save and protect habitat and species,” she says. “It’s incredible that we have endangered animals living right here in the city.”

For more information on educational opportunities with the bonobos, visit www.apeinitiative.org. n