Food

Bonobos forage their food from the trees and the forest floor. Fruit is the main staple in their diet as well as pith (the central spongy tissue of the stem of a plant) from THV (terrestrial herbaceous vegetation) plants (de Waal, 1997). THV plants have an extremely high protein content, therefore bonobos do not need to consume meat. However, they will very rarely eat insects, birds eggs, reptiles, shrews, flying squirrels, and fish (de Waal 1997).

Bonobos exhibit less feeding competition than chimps because there is an abundance of food. This is due to the variety of their diet. Haumania liebrechstiana is the most important component in the diet of bonobos and is more abundant than the preferred food of the common chimpanzees (Wrangham, McGrew, de Waal, and Heltne 1994). Bonobos feed together in large groups, especially the females. Bonobo groups are directly proportional to the amount of food present; the more abundant the food, the larger the groups feeding together (Wrangham et al 1994) (also see Social Organization).