An angel to bonobos

posted in 19 May 2009

Bonobos (Pan paniscus) only occur in a region of Democratic Republic of Congo. In the past they were known as the pygmy chimpanzees, as long as they are smaller than the regular chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). There is only one sanctuary in Africa dedicated to bonobos, Lola Ya Bonobo, located at capital Kinshasa, which today hosts 63 of these primates.

Bonobos have a particular behavior, different from regular chimpanzees, and they have an interesting characteristic: they like to be cared by women, rather than by men.

Anne Marie Ngadula is a Congolese with a degree in human nursing. But her main patients are not humans, but bonobos. She does whatever it is necessary to care and rescue bonobos, including trips to the most remote places in Congo in order to take bonobos victims of hunters and animal poachers to the sanctuary.

One of her strongest experience took place on 2005, when a baby bonobo who was being illegally traded to France ended up on her hands. Malou, how he was called, was completely dehydrated, to a point that his skin was getting unstuck from his body. Anne Marie used skin creams and human rehydratation techniques on that body that was vanishing from her hands. But with a lot of gentleness and hope that only a mother is able to offer, she saved the life of that little primate and this marked her life forever.

Anne Marie was awarded this year by PASA (Pan African Sanctuary Alliance) with the prize “Siddle-Marsden”, to recognize the work of several keepers, the majority Africans, who rescue and take care of the great apes at the affiliated sanctuaries.

This year the award will be offered at PASA Management Meeting, that is going to held for the first time out of Africa, in Columbus, Ohio, USA, from May 19 -22. The prize consists of a recognition plaque and USD 250.

Doug Cress, Executive Director of PASA, declared: “The commitment of Anne Marie to conservation and care of the bonobos is an example and her ability to use her knowledge in human medicine in favor of bonobos is one of the reasons why sanctuary Lola Ya Bonobo has been so efficient in their rescue and rehabilitation.”

Anne Marie – who is an angel for bonobos – is the only one who has access to the bonobos in the sanctuary. She treats little wounds, order medicines, including injections, and accompanies all the treatments. In spite of the time dedicated to their bonobo children, Anne Marie has three human children, to whom she dedicates the same care and love.

We need dozens of Anne Marie Ngalula in this tormented world!

Dr. Pedro A Ynterian
President, GAP Project International

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