# Where Do Bonobos Live?

> Bonobos live only in DRC lowland and swamp forest south of the Congo River — not with chimpanzees, not in Asia.

- **Species:** Bonobo (*Pan paniscus*)
- **Conservation status:** Endangered
- **Diet:** Omnivore — fruit, leaves, seeds, and occasional small mammals
- **Habitat:** Lowland and swamp forests south of the Congo River
- **Lifespan:** 40–50 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Knuckle-walking; agile in trees
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bonobo/where-do-bonobo-live/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bonobo/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

Bonobos are great apes found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo, closely related to chimpanzees but generally less aggressive, with female-led social bonds and extensive use of social behaviour to resolve conflict. Listed Endangered, they weigh 30–50 kg and face habitat loss and bushmeat hunting.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a sighting hotline. This page is native range and habitat.

## Female-centred society

Bonobo groups are led by strong female alliances that cooperate to manage aggression and access food. Females migrate between groups and form bonds that reduce male dominance compared with chimpanzees. Social grooming and play are central to group cohesion.

## Help protect the Bonobo

Bonobos survive only in war-scarred Congo forests, threatened by bushmeat hunting and logging.

[Donate via WARN's country programmes](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/where-we-work/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bonobo/where-do-bonobo-live/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.