In Democratic Republic of Congo, a young couple from Europe works on the protection of bonobos, living in the rainforest with their nine-month old baby. Olivia’s diary is a personal report about the struggle for conservation on the ground.

Near the remote village of Malebo, three days of driving on rough, bumpy roads, north of DRC’s capital of Kinshasa, a young couple from Europe works on the protection of bonobos, living in the rainforest with their nine-month old baby.

On behalf of the Worldwide Fund for Nature WWF, project manager Olivia Haggis (34) from the UK and scientific coordinator Charles-Albert Petre (35) from Belgium, closely cooperate with local communities and with the local NGO Mbou Mon Tour (MMT).

Charles-Albert focuses on research on bonobo behaviour. Findings in Malebo and elsewhere in DRC are the basis of measures to protect them. Olivia works on further development of sources of income that should raise the standard of living in the local communities and leave poverty behind. Community-based eco-tourism to see bonobos and scientific tourism are the main potential sources. Therefore, habituating bonobos to the presence of humans is important in Malebo. Olivia also works closely with other WWF projects in the area, such as the development of sustainable agriculture and agroforestry.

In the spring of 2016 Olivia keeps a diary about the project. She tells about her daily life, far away from modern comforts and reflects on the co-existence of humans and bonobos. Her diary is a personal report about the road to a sustainable future for local communities…

Please Download Chapter 9: Living with the bonobos – Olivia’s Diary (6,7 Mb)