This is sad. Anyone that can help...
"...Bonobos do NOT kill each other. The females are in charge of the group and they seem to keep everyone's
temper under control ..... It doesn't matter how old you are, or if you're male or female - ..."
This morning I got an email that stopped me in my tracks . It was from someone I hold in very high regard, Sara Gruen Sara is the best-selling author of Water for Elephants ..I imagine many of you have read it...
We met her during the course of a real estate transaction which happily landed Sara and her husband Bob and three incredible boys just down the road from us here in Asheville.
...As I read the email, I recalled a conversation I'd had with Sara about face-to-face research she had done for her upcoming novel. It was with the Bonobos . She told me how she had quickly developed a love for the Bonobo. Knowing how intelligent and family-oriented they are, Sara had taken along a photo of her three boys to show one of the mothers... when she told me what happened as a result, I felt tears of compassion well up in my eyes...OK..you might think I am just an old softie (which I will admit to) but
I bet that if YOU take a minute or two to visit http://www.friendsofbonobos.org you'll see why...NOW...back to Sara's SOS...She wrote, " If any of you have blogs or email lists and can pass this along, I'd be eternally grateful. The Lola Ya Bonobo in the Congo is the only sanctuary in the world for bonobos, the most critically endangered great ape in the world. The Lola Ya takes in orphaned babies (usually victims of the bush meat trade), raises them, and reintroduces them into the jungle when they are ready. Their population of 64 to 66 has been devastated by a human flu over the last couple of weeks that has carried off 6 babies and infected at least ten others.
I am heartsick. If you've been to my Web site www.saragruen.com the baby shown holding my book on my flash page died last week. If you can help....--I and the bonobo babies personally thank you. I've donated as much as I can. I know the economy is in the tank, and if you can't donate financially...PLEASE help spread the word ..... If you can help, I thank you a million times. I mean it. THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart. "
GO HERE TO HELP OUT and please let me know what you think...
I can't believe the pop. reduction due to human flu in a mere couple of weeks. I hope it can be halted.
Another beautiful creature at risk, so sad.