COLUMBUS, Ohio — A newly renovated indoor habitat for the bonobos has opened up at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
Zoo officials held a grand opening ceremony for the Claudine André Bonobo Indoor Habitat on Tuesday.
The newly renovated space was designed specifically for the bonobos, offering increased vertical space, a mulch biofloor, increased HVAC capacity and new behind-the-scenes rooms.
The renovation project cost $4 million.
Bonobos are among the rarest great apes in the world and are known for their female-led social structures. There are only 5,000 to 50,000 estimated to remain in the wild. They are native to forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo and face threats like habitat destruction to bushmeat hunting.
Bonobos at the zoo can now explore their existing outdoor exhibit and enriching new indoor space.
Here are some details on the new features:
- Increased vertical space (26 feet total) with pathways and climbing/swinging opportunities—an important component for this species that spends time both on the ground and in trees
- Three-foot-deep mulch biofloor for the bonobos’ additional comfort
- Increased HVAC capacity and building modifications to provide high humidity, the ideal condition for bonobos
- Redesigned behind-the-scenes rooms to accommodate the complex social structure of the species and their preferences throughout the day. Bonobos live in a fission-fusion society, which means the size of the Zoo’s bonobo group (14 individuals) in a given area changes throughout the day. Sometimes, many of the bonobos choose to be together in one place (fusion), and other times, they opt to split into small groups (fission)—all of which contribute to thriving bonobo family dynamics.
“Thanks to the collaboration throughout our organization from Animal Care to the Zoo’s Facilities, Horticulture and Planning teams, each has brought their expertise to ensure the new indoor habitat was carefully designed to meet this unique species’ needs. This collective dedication has resulted in areas that enhance the bonobos' wellbeing by supporting their natural behaviors and social dynamics while furthering our commitment to the care and conservation of this important species,” said Audra Meinelt, curator of the Columbus Zoo’s Congo Expedition region.
The new habitat was named after Claudine André, founder of Friends of Bonobos and Lola ya Bonobo, because of her contributions to the conservation of the animal.
“I am deeply honored to have the bonobo indoor habitat named in my honor,” said André. “For me, one word summarizes the new state-of-the-art space for the bonobos: Wow! My heart is full seeing this incredible habitat for the bonobos. My first visit to the Columbus Zoo was back in 1998, and the commitment of the Zoo team left a deep impression on me. The Columbus Zoo’s mission of ‘Empowering People. Saving Wildlife.’ is much like my own motto: ‘Conservation Begins with Education.’ By working together with communities, all of us can continue to make a significant difference for this incredible species. I am proud to see how far we have all come in this journey, and I thank the Columbus Zoo for being an integral part of our work to save bonobos in the wild.”