THE BONOBOS HAVE NOW MOVED!

PLEASE VISIT THE GREAT APE TRUST OF IOWA WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE BONOBOS.

http://www.iowagreatapes.org

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Matata

• Born in the Congo, Matata is the LRC bonobo matriarch. Her approximate date of birth is 1970. Originally housed with Sherman and Austin, Matata was the first bonobo to join the Language Project in 1978.

P-suke

• P-suke (pronounced Peace-kay) was the only bonobo living in Japan before he was sent here to give him a social group and as part of the SSP breeding program. He has done his job well and is the father of Elikya, Nyota, Nathan and Maisha. His estimated date of birth is 1/1/79.

Kanzi

• Kanzi was born 10/28/80. He was the first nonhuman primate to learn language the way children do - by being immersed in a language-rich environment. In general, Kanzi is more gregarious and outgoing than Panbanisha. Matata is his adopted mother. Kanzi's name means 'treasure' in Swahili.

Panbanisha

• Panbanisha, a bonobo, and Panzee, a chimpanzee, were co-reared to test the linguistic competency differences between the two species. Panbanisha, more introspective than Kanzi, was born at the LRC 11/17/85. Her two sons are Nyota and Nathan.
  

Elikya

• Like her mother, Matata, Elikya is primarily used as a control subject, comparing the competencies of apes raised in a language-rich environment to those who are not. Born 6/28/97, Elikya enjoys spending time with Nyota, who's a year younger. Elikya's name means 'hope'.

Nyota

• Nyota was born at the LRC on 4/4/98. He is being raised in a fully language-rich and culturally rich environment and is a very important part of the current research. Like most youngsters his age, he actively tests his boundaries.

Maisha

• Maisha was brought into the world on 5/28/00 by his very experienced mother and no human assistance. First thought to be a female, researchers had to do a quick name change (from 'Malaika' which means angel). His name means 'life' in Swahili

Nathan

• Nathan's birth was much more difficult than Maisha's, and with the help of Dr. Sue Savage-Rumbaugh, he finally emerged on 6/18/00. Already Nathan is showing a very independent and inquisitive nature, and enjoys food as much as his Uncle Kanzi!