Projects We Support

Selected Project:  

Lukuru Wildlife Research Project, Dr. Jo Thompson Lukuru, Democratic Republic of Congo

 
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Research on rare species

The mission of the Lukuru Wildlife Research Project (LWRP) is to conduct scientific research on, conservation of, and educational activities about fauna, primarily the bonobo (Pan paniscus), and flora within the project area. Bonobos are erroneously called pygmy chimpanzees even though they are about the same size as chimpanzees. They are confined to a 200,000 km² (77,220 mi²) area in central Africa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Relief Mission is geared toward supporting park personnel and local communities in safeguarding this rare species along with the other endangered wildlife in the nationally recognized protected areas in this war torn country,.

WildiZe is a proud supporter of LWRP. Our financial support has gone directly to Bonobo conservation, GPS mapping, and educating and training the local communities on the importance of history in terms of conservation implementation.

Dr. Jo Thompson is a highly published researcher in this important area and has been working in this region for over 30 years.


Click inks below to download Dr. Thompson's field reports (pdf)

2001 Lukuru Report

2003 Bonobo Workshop Report

2005 Lukuru Report

2007 Lukuru Report

Le Gorille

 

 

FAST FACTS:

The Bonobo is endangered and is found in the wild only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Along with the Common Chimpanzee

The Bonobo is the closest extant relative to humans. Since the two species are not proficient swimmers

It is possible that the formation of the Congo River 1.5-2 million years ago led to the speciation of the Bonobo.

The bonobo lives south of the Congo River, and thereby were separated from the ancestors of the Common Chimpanzee, which live north of the river.