North American Bonobo Population

Here's a list of all bonobos in the United States. If you'd like to see all bonobos in captivity, please check out the Bonobos in Europe topic!

United States

Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative (ACCI) - Des Moines, Iowa - 4.2.0

0.1, Clara - May 28, 2010 - Vernon x Zanga-Mokila

0.1, Elikya* - 1997 - P-Suke x Matata

1.0, Kanzi - 1980 - Bosondjo x Lorel

1.0, Maisha - 2000 - P-Suke x Matata

1.0, Nyota - 1998 - P-Suke x Panbanisha - Kanzi’s Nephew

1.0, Teco - 2010 - Nyota x Elikya


Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens - Cincinnati, Ohio - 5.6.0

1.0, Bolingo - 2015 - Vernon x Zanga Mokila

0.1, Kenge - 2009 - Mabruki x Kuni

0.1, Kesi - 2004 - Yenge x Lana

0.1, Kibibi - November 17, 2013 - Vergil x Kimia

0.1, Kimia - 1999 - Jimmie x Susie

0.1, Lana* - 1979 - Kakowet x Linda

1.0, Vim - 1995 - Vernon x Louise

1.0, Vergil - 1994 - Vernon x Lisa - Vernon x Lisa

1.0, Vernon - 1970 WC

0.1, Zanga-Mokila - 1999 - Lody x Laura

1.0, Zeke (Ezekiel) - 2010 - Vergil x Kimia


Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Powell, Ohio - 9.8.0

0.1, Amelia - 2014 - Donnie x Ana Neema

0.1, Ana-Neema - 1992 - Kidogo x Matata

0.1, Bertie - December 9, 2016 - Donnie x Susie

1.0, Bila-Isia - 2001 - Makanza x Ana Neema

1.0, Donnie - 1993 - Jimmie x Susie

0.1, Elema - 2012 - Donnie x Unga

1.0, Gander - 2003 - Mambo x Unga

1.0, Jerry - 2008 - Donnie x Unga

1.0, Jimmie - 1979 WC

0.1, Lady - 1982 WC

1.0, Maiko - 1984 - Mato x Daniela

1.0, Max - 2015 - Jimmie x Lady

1.0, Toby - 1979 WC

0.1, Sukari - 2005 - Mofana x Kiri

0.1, Susie* - 1982 WC

0.1, Unga* - 1993 - Desmond x Hermien

1.0, Wilber - 2010 - Donnie x Ana Neema


Fort Worth Zoo - Fort Worth, Texas - 5.6.0

1.0, Andy - 2004 - Toby x Lucy

0.1, Asali - September, 2017 - Andy x Mchumba

0.1, Johari* - 1995 - Maiko x Kuni

1.0, Kabili - 2015 - Kevin x Lucy

1.0, Kevin - 1975 - Kakowet x Linda

0.1, Layla - April 12, 2010 - Kevin x Lucy

0.1, Lucy - 1989 - Vernon x Lisa

0.1, Malela - 1994 - Akili x Connie-Lenore

1.0, Makolo - 2013 - Kevin x Malela

0.1, Mchumba - 2000 - Maiko x Lolita

1.0, Victor - 1983 - Vernon x Loretta


Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens - Jacksonville, Florida - 6.4.0

1.0, Budir - August 6, 2016 - Akili x Kuni

1.0 Jenga - June 15, 2011 - Akili x Marilyn-Lori

0.1, Jo-T - December 18, 2002 - Mambo x Lady

1.0, Jumanji - May 5, 1996 - Akili x Marilyn-Mori

0.1 Kuni - February 24, 1985 - Maskini x Kombote

0.1, Laney - April 19, 2011 - Mabruki x Lorel

0.1, Lorel* - April 17, 1969 - Kakowet x Linda

1.0, Lukuru - October 2014 - Akili x Jo-T

1.0, Mabruki - October 23, 1983 - Bosondjo x Lorel

1.0, Makanza - August 11, 1994 - Kidogo x Zalia


Memphis Zoo - Memphis, Tennessee - 3.4.0

0.1, Gilda - 2006 - Makanza x Ana Neema

0.1, Kiri* - 1993 - Maiko x Lana

0.1, Lily - 1997 - Bosondjo x Lorel

0.1, Lisala II - 1992 - Bosondjo x Lorel

1.0 Macumba - 2015 - Mofana x Gilda

1.0, Mobali - 2013 - Mofana x Kiri

1.0, Mpingo - 2014 - Mofana x Lily


Milwaukee County Zoo - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - 8.11.0

1.0, Brian - January 9, 1989 - Bosondjo x Lorel

0.1, Claudine - 2002 - Lody x Laura

0.1, Dierdre - 2003 - Lody x Kosana

0.1, Faith - 2005 - Vaije x Maringa

1.0, Katu (K2) - 2010 - Viaje x Claudine

0.1, Kitoko - 2010 - Makanza x Zomi II

0.1, Laura* - 1967 - Kakowet x Linda

0.1, Lola - 2004 - Toby x Susie

1.0, Murph - 1990 - Bosondjo x Laura

0.1, Nadine - 2013 - Zuri x Elikia

0.1, Noelle - 2013 - Ricky x Zomi II

1.0, Noki-Noki - 2013 - Ricky x Dierdre

1.0, Pabu - 2015 - Ricky x Lola

1.0, Qasai - 2016 - Zuri x Claudine

1.0, Ricky - March 19, 1995 - Jimmie x Lady

0.1, Tamia - 1996 - Jimmie x Lady

0.1, Zomi II - 1999 - Lody x Maringa

1.0, Zuri - 1998 - Congo x Lolita


San Diego Zoo - San Diego, California - 3.6.0

0.1, Belle - December 21, 2013 - Vernon x Lisa

1.0, Erin - December 23, 1991 - Vernon x Loretta

0.1, Kali - March 15, 2005 - Jumanji x Loretta (not SDZ Loretta)

0.1, Lisa - June 14, 1981 - Bosondjo x Laura

0.1, Loretta* - January 22, 1974 - Kakowet x Linda

0.1, Maddie - March 24,2009 - Vernon x Lisa

1.0, Makasi - April 22, 2004 - Jumanji x Loretta (not SDZ Loretta)

0.1, Mali - September 4, 2007 - Yenge x Ikela

1.0, Vic - June 27, 2001 - Vernon x Lisa

 

I took a trip to Milwaukee County Zoo yesterday and I was pleasantly surprised by their troop. My group was basically the only group at the zoo - besides a few older zoo "members" - so it was very silent when my friend and I entered the primate complex. When we arrived the bonobos were all tucked up in a corner, but after waiting a few minutes they all eventually came and were all surprisingly active! (It's a great example of what happens when you're patient while visiting a zoo.) When eventually came back towards the end of our visit and we got extremely close to one of the older females, who I think may have been Laura. I was also able to identify - I think - Murph, Claduine, and Qasai.

 

I'm looking for some feedback.. should I rearrange the bonobo by age and not alphabetical order?

 

Mali has been moved from San Diego to ACCI

 

Also @EsserWarrior - Kiri is not the alpha female at Memphis, it’s Lisala

 

I have mine arranged by age. I also indicate whether they are M or F because you can always tell by their name. Also, I noticed you have Kalli and Makasi mom listed as (not SDZ Loretta) but she is their mom.

 

If this is a list of all the bonobos in North America then you are missing out those from the other two countries that comprise the North American continent , Canada and Mexico.

There are (or were until fairly recently ) bonobos kept in zoos in both of those countries.

 

The only time bonobos have been kept historically in Canada was a one time occasion - when two females, Kosana (deceased) and Unga (currently at Columbus) were kept for a short stint in Gander, Canada during their transfer between Planckendael and Columbus - this because of the 9/11 bombings. Unga's subsequent son was named after Gander in honour of the town's hospitality towards her and in remembrance of the disaster.

As far as bonobos in Mexico go, one male (now deceased) came from a zoo in Mexico to Milwaukee. This zoo was Zoofari, who stopped keeping bonobos with this last animal's departure (in 2001). The only other documented zoo housing bonobos in Mexico was Parque Zoologico Benito Juarez. This zoo had bonobos from around the mid 80s until some time in the 2010s, but a recent check revealed they no longer keep bonobos.

The only ex-situ holding for the species outside of the US and Europe is Kumamoto Sanctuary in Japan, who hold 2.4 animals as part of the SSP (a non-breeding group consisting of an elderly overrepresented female, her three daughters, inbred son and a male whose lineage is also overrepresented in both US and European collections).

EDIT: having done some research of my own it turns out the pair at Benito Juarez are in fact still alive, with a new enclosure on the way for them....! So there you have it.

 

It would-be be good ik PZ B.Juarez were alllowed to participate in the SSP.!

 

There were / are definitely a pair of bonobos at Morelia / Benito Juarez zoo in the state of Michoacan. I have seen them and remember them as it was the first time I had ever seen that species, they were fascinating.

I think they were a male and female and even then they looked to be quite elderly animals. It would have been just over a decade ago in the late 2000's when I visited Morelia zoo and saw them.

** I'm glad to hear that they are both alive and have a new enclosure being built for them as the one I saw them in was not at all suitable for great apes **

 

Thanks for fixing that for me!

I've switched my list from alphabetical order to age. Also, thanks for pointing out Kalli and Makasi's dam to me! I was confused about that.

I'll also add Mexico to my list. I'll repost the list at the beginning of the new year.

 

On November 11th Kimia, Zeke and Kibibi moved from Cincinnati to Jacksonville.

 

Thanks Jake.

 

It seems Layla passed away during the summer.

 

That's unfortunate. She wasn't very old. Only 46 females remain in the United States. 43.46 is the current number of the remaining population (in the States) that I have recorded.

 

Correct, it’s 44.47 if you include the Mexican pair.

 

Out of curiosity , do you know how old this pair is ?

These apes must be positively ancient by now considering that they arrived in the mid 80s.

They even looked fairly elderly when I saw them over a decade ago so I am assuming they must be well into their twilight years.

 

Based on photos and a bit of research I estimate the male to be around 41 and the female to be around 40. So yeah, definitely getting on in age...

 

Could you send some photos of their pair?

 

Unfortunately not - the photos I found are on Facebook and don’t belong to me so I’d rather not upload them to Zoochat. If you just look up “bonobo parque zoologico de morelia” on Facebook you should get a photo of Bongo the male with the zoo’s logo edited into the photo, and a Facebook post by a Mexican vet consisting of three photos. Two of the photos are of a bonobo on the ground (Bongo) and one is of one on a climbing frame (the female Wamba).