Current status of the bonobo (Pan paniscus) in the proposed Lomako Reserve(Democratic Republic of Congo)

The creation of a 3800 km(2) forest reserve along the Lomako river (Equateu r Province, Democratic Republic of Congo) is considered one of the main act ions necessary for the conservation of the bonobo (Pan paniscus). We conduc ted a one-month qualitative survey in parts of the Lomako forest, in order to determine the presence of bonobos and the nature and degree of human dis turbance. Results are based on information obtained by questionnaires at hu man settlements, direct evidence of human activities and forest visits in s earch of bonobos. There is still a rather large bonobo population in the so uth-central part of the Lomako forest. relatively free of hunting. However, the northern population seems to be decimated. except in the most impenetr able forest parts. The threats to the proposed reserve are twofold. First, the indigenous inhabitants of the Lomako forest have started intensifying c ommercial bushmeat hunting as an alternative to the loss of their agricultu ral economy. Secondly, an increasing number of commercial hunters are enter ing the area. In addition to the creation of the Lomako Forest Bonobo Reser ve, we consider that support of local agriculture and the presence of resea rchers are the most important factors for the continued preservation of the local bonobo population by the indigenous inhabitants of the forest. (C) 2 000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.