Caring for orphaned baby bonobos is a full-time job. In addition, it is important that we involve local residents in our conservation work. For these reasons, we hire only Congolese people to be bonobo surrogate moms.

We welcome visitors but volunteer opportunities at the sanctuary in the DRC are rare. And for the safety of the bonobos, we don’t have any volunteer positions that involve contact with them. At times we can accept long-term volunteers (2 weeks or longer) who can offer professional services such as veterinary care, medical care in the field (in rural Congo), or services such as videographers, electricians, landscapers/gardeners, and builders. Also, our U.S. office in Durham, N.C., occasionally needs volunteers for communications and fundraising support. To offer a service, please complete this short form.(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJTT5Koz82mDC4MOHbrtATVgaNGsAoZK3qz2s9YKrb0wr3gQ/viewform)

Yes. We offer both daily tours as well as an exclusive opportunity for visitors to stay at the sanctuary for up to two weeks. Please see our Visit page (javascript:void(0))to learn more about both options.

You will be able to get very close if you visit the sanctuary, however, we do not allow direct contact with visitors due to the high risk of contagion (from humans to bonobos). Our goal is to release as many bonobos to the wild as we can, and for that reason, they have contact with humans only when it is necessary for their survival.

We do not currently have any available job opportunities for people who are not local to the DR Congo. If we do have anything available for people outside the DRC, we will announce it on social media and on our website and you are welcome to apply!

We welcome research proposals from PhD students, and in some cases, master’s students. Proposals should be for studies lasting three months or less. You can submit an abstract and cover letter, along with a letter of recommendation from your professor, to research@lolayabonobo.org.(mailto:research@lolayabonobo.org)