At times Bonobos can appear to be the most chilled out and relaxed animals you can imagine. This morning we were up early and came across one of the Lola groups waking up slowly. A classic posture is lying on their backs, legs in the air holding on with one arm. Very distinctive!
As you would expect the mothers are very close to their infants. As soon as the infant walks away, a hand comes out and grabs and pulls him or her back to mummy. They are very close. The mother allows other adults to play with the infants, but keeps a very close eye on what is gong on.
The infants seem to like this protection. It allows them to explore to some extent, have some fights with other infants and learn how to swing through the trees.
So when the Bonobos start to fight, it is very much play fighting between the infants; lessons that are needed to face the future.
Bonobos are vegetarians and so need to consume vast quantities of fruit (ranging from Bananas through Jack Fruit to Paw Paws, plus other exotic fruit we've never seen before), leaves and the like to survive. As such some have very large stomachs to digest this lot ... as this one clearly shows!
All these shots taken over the past 24 hours here at Lola ya Bonobo. Every day presents something 's different.
Julie and Adam
Bonobos relaxing with maniac infants - 7 August 2011
