In the Tshuapa, Lomami and Lualaba river basins in the DRC where the bonobos live, humans have it very rough – we couldn’t say if they have it better or worse than the bonobos. However, we can say that the human women have it worse than the human men in the DRC. In the United States, women are free to get jobs, go to school and live by themselves – you may think it’s strange that we’re even mentioning those things because we are so used to these freedoms! But, in the Congo, this is not the norm. Women and girls rarely get to go to school or explore a career in computers or medicine or anything; they are kept close to home with very specific work and chores.

So, we were very excited to hear of the adventures of three scientists (John Hart, Ashley Vosper, and Terese Hart) working in the DRC with a mission: to work with local villagers to conserve these river basins in the heart of the Congo and the home of the bonobo ape and another rarely seen animal, the rain forest giraffe (okapi). They are searching for the ‘elusive bonobo’ and doing incredible work to help the people and the land of the Congo. Here they are:

In order for these scientists to find bonobos in the wild, they work with local villagers who are their guides as they trek through the dense Lengola Forest. Recently two women have joined the group as guides! Nyota and Clarisse are incredibly knowledgeable about the forest, and they also help cook among many other trekking and camp chores.

Here is Clarisse with John and some other team members:

Next, is my favorite picture. It shows two Batiamoniga Village women who were so excited that Clarisse and Nyota were on the exploration team, that they carried their packs for them through their village! What a great way to show support for someone else’s work.

Everyone at Bonobo Kids sends a huge ‘HELLO & THANK YOU!” to the entire team. Your courage and your actions are an inspiration to us all.

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