Govind Tekale
A new male bonobo was born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on August 11, 2025. First-time mother Kibibi has welcomed a healthy son, marking the 18th bonobo birth at the facility and adding a valuable member to this endangered species’ population under human care.
Four Generations Under One Roof
The new arrival connects four generations of bonobos at the Columbus Zoo. Kibibi is daughter to Kimia, who was born at the zoo in 1997. Kimia’s parents, Susie and Jimmy, still live at the zoo, making them great-grandparents to the newest troop member.
While Kibibi needed time to adjust to motherhood, zoo staff report she now shows “wonderful care and attentiveness to her son.” In bonobo society, males typically remain with their mothers throughout their lives, forming lifelong bonds.
Due to bonobos’ fission-fusion social structure—where group composition changes frequently—paternity testing will be conducted in coming months to determine the baby’s father.
Guardians of a Vanishing Species
Bonobos face serious threats in their native Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Population estimates range from 10,000 to 20,000 individuals remaining in the wild according to the Bonobo Conservation Initiative. Their numbers continue to decline due to habitat loss, bushmeat hunting, and their slow reproductive rate—females typically give birth only once every 4-5 years.
The Columbus Zoo plays a crucial role in bonobo conservation as one of only seven facilities in North America housing these rare apes and has contributed over $1 million since 1994 to support conservation efforts benefiting bonobos. This commitment to conservation mirrors efforts at other facilities working to create naturalistic habitats, like the new Heart of Africa habitat at Chester Zoo that focuses on creating appropriate environments for endangered species.
From Zoo to Wild: Full Circle Conservation
Since 2000, the Columbus Zoo has provided over $500,000 to support Lola ya Bonobo’s rescue and rehabilitation efforts and educational programs in the DRC. This sanctuary rescues orphaned bonobos from illegal wildlife trade, rehabilitates them, and when possible, reintroduces them to protected areas.
The Zoo recently opened the Claudine André Bonobo Indoor Habitat, named after Lola ya Bonobo’s founder. This $4 million facility provides a state-of-the-art environment for the bonobos, including specialized features that support their natural behaviors. These types of specialized habitats are becoming increasingly important for conservation, as seen in other recent animal relocations to larger, more natural spaces.
Peace-Loving Relatives
Bonobos share approximately 98.7% of their DNA with humans, making them our closest living relatives along with chimpanzees. Unlike other great apes, bonobo groups are female-led, making them the only matriarchal great ape species. Recent research on female gorillas winning fights against larger males shows that female leadership is not unique to bonobos, though their peaceful society stands apart.
Only a small portion of their habitat is protected, with estimates suggesting just 15,000 to 20,000 bonobos remain in fragmented wild populations according to the African Wildlife Foundation. Their peaceful nature and problem-solving through cooperation rather than aggression makes them unique among great apes.
Building Tomorrow’s Troop
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Bonobo Species Survival Plan, coordinated in part by Audra Meinelt of the Columbus Zoo, works with other facilities to maintain genetic diversity in captive populations. This program collaborates with the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) to manage bonobos globally.
The partnership represents one approach to saving endangered species, alongside innovative techniques like those used by scientists extracting living cells from animal feces and genetic rescue programs that aim to restore biodiversity.
Every bonobo birth represents hope for this species’ future. The Columbus Zoo has experienced both joy and loss in its conservation work, recently mourning the loss of their beloved cheetah Kvamme, which highlights the ongoing challenges of wildlife conservation.
The arrival of Kibibi’s son not only strengthens the Columbus Zoo’s bonobo family but also contributes to worldwide conservation efforts to protect these remarkable apes for generations to come. Bonobos are listed under CITES Appendix I, providing them the highest level of protection against international trade.
