#diyoko

let's sit on top of green stuff with mama

Diyoko is one of the many orphaned bonobos rescued from the illegal pet trade by Lola ya Bonobo, the only bonobo sanctuary in the world, located in Kinshasa, DRC. Bonobos, with chimpanzees, are humanity's closest living relative, sharing 98% of their DNA with us. Baby bonobos need love and affection, and can die without it, even if all of their physical needs are met. Because of this, Lola ya Bonobo pairs every baby with a trained surrogate mama to raise them until they're old enough to live with the other bonobos and eventually be rewilded. Diyoko is pictured with his surrogate, Mama Niclette.

Diyoko is now four years old and has graduated from the nursery. He lives in Forest Enclosure 2 with his friends Lolabu, Omandja, Mpongo, and Tshimbulu.

Lola ya Bonobo is a really, REALLY great organization to donate to. They do so much good work rescuing and caring for bonobos, as well as educating communities about the illegal pet trade, helping protect bonobos' natural habitat, and coordinating with local communities to fix systemic issues that drive people to hunt great ape bushmeat. They always need donations to help keep them operating. Just recently, severe flooding damaged their facilities, and they are currently raising money to rebuild. Please, if you've got an extra $5 and want to help out, consider donating to Lola ya Bonobo.