Bonobos, or scientifically Pan paniscus, are a part of the Hominidae which is in the Primates order in the Mammalia class of the Chordata Phylum. Bonobos have also been called Pygmy Chimpanzee, Gracile Chimpanzee, Dwarf Chimpanzee. Bonobos and chimpanzees look and are very similar, which means they are similar to humans. In fact both Chimps and Bonobos share 98.7% of their DNA with humans. Making these two species our closest relatives, causing their endangerment is like causing your cousins endangerment. These two species are so similar that until 1929 Bonobos were not considered a separate species from the chimpanzee by Congo’s Demographic republic. Bonobos are usually smaller and darker than chimpanzees. Unlike their better known cousins, the Bonobo groups are very peaceful and are led by the females, most disputes are resolved through sex. Despite their usually kind and friendly nature, if a two groups collide they will engage in serious conflicts. Being the most recently scientifically discovered great ape, much still remains unknown about the bonobo.
Bonobos have suffered serious illegal hunting, habitat degradation and destruction. Due to their now dilapidated habitat and subsiding numbers, the Dwarf Chimpanzees’ population has significantly diminished in the last 15–20 years and it is thought that this depletion could continue for the next 60 years. At the moment the greatest threat to the Pan paniscus’ survival is poaching for the commercial wild meat trade. Scientists estimate approximately nine tons of It has been estimated that nine tons of wild meat are extracted daily from a conservation landscape covering 50,000-km² land within the Bonobo’s range.
Their generation time is estimated to be about 25 years, in the middle of the human generation time of about 22-32 years. Bonobos develop at a similar rate as humans. Similar to humans, the Gracile Chimpanzees do not repopulate quickly. These two factors combined creates a serious dilemma, which is one of the main causes of the endangerment the Pan paniscus. The constant deforestation and poaching and the slow repopulation process is wreaking havoc upon the Bonobo species. The population decline over 75 years (three-generation periods) from 2003 to 2078 is likely to exceed 50%.
If you would like to learn more information in further detail you should head to http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/15932/0. Don’t forget to check out the Bonobo Conservation Initiative on https://www.bonobo.org/ if you would like see what you can do to help the Bonobos.
Sources:
“Bonobo." WWF. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2017.
"Latest News." Bonobo Conservation Initiative. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2017.
"Pan Paniscus ." Pan Paniscus (Bonobo, Dwarf Chimpazee, Gracile Chimpanzee, Pygmy Chimpanzee). N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2017.
Bonobos have suffered serious illegal hunting, habitat degradation and destruction. Due to their now dilapidated habitat and subsiding numbers, the Dwarf Chimpanzees’ population has significantly diminished in the last 15–20 years and it is thought that this depletion could continue for the next 60 years. At the moment the greatest threat to the Pan paniscus’ survival is poaching for the commercial wild meat trade. Scientists estimate approximately nine tons of It has been estimated that nine tons of wild meat are extracted daily from a conservation landscape covering 50,000-km² land within the Bonobo’s range.
Their generation time is estimated to be about 25 years, in the middle of the human generation time of about 22-32 years. Bonobos develop at a similar rate as humans. Similar to humans, the Gracile Chimpanzees do not repopulate quickly. These two factors combined creates a serious dilemma, which is one of the main causes of the endangerment the Pan paniscus. The constant deforestation and poaching and the slow repopulation process is wreaking havoc upon the Bonobo species. The population decline over 75 years (three-generation periods) from 2003 to 2078 is likely to exceed 50%.
If you would like to learn more information in further detail you should head to http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/15932/0. Don’t forget to check out the Bonobo Conservation Initiative on https://www.bonobo.org/ if you would like see what you can do to help the Bonobos.
Sources:
“Bonobo." WWF. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2017.
"Latest News." Bonobo Conservation Initiative. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2017.
"Pan Paniscus ." Pan Paniscus (Bonobo, Dwarf Chimpazee, Gracile Chimpanzee, Pygmy Chimpanzee). N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2017.