Predators

Bonobos have very few predators. Their most prevalent predators are humans (de Waal 1997). Although it used to be taboo for humans to kill bonobos for their meat, this cultural belief has diminished recently. Hunters will kill bonobos for food and steal their babies to sell as pets (de Waal 1997). Humans are also considered a predator because they are quickly destroying the bonobos' natural habitat. Farmers are clear cutting the rainforest in order to have land to grow their crops and raise their livestock (San Diego Zoo 2004).

Other possible predators are leopards and snakes; however, they do not present as strong a threat to the bonobo as humans do (de Waal 1997).

Since bonobos have few predators, they do not have elaborate predator defense. They do not alarm call to each other to warn if a predator is coming. However, if bonobos sense that there is a predator near by (especially a human) they will climb up into the trees to escape and then drop to the forest floor when they feel they are far enough away (de Waal 1997). Bonobos' also branch wave, shout angrily, and urinate on predators to defend themselves (de Waal 1989). At night bonobos sleep together as a community in order to watch out for predators, such as leopards and snakes. They will build new nests every night high up in the trees (de Waal 1997). Adult bonobos have been known to share nests as a form of predator defense, which is unique behavior among the great apes (San Diego Zoo 2004).