Mail from the forest

The LuiKotale Bonobo Project serves as a logistical platform facilitating the monitoring of wild bonobos and their natural habitat by scientists, students, and volunteers. This presence enables the prompt identification of threats and implementation of countermeasures. While Bonobo Alive has extensively reported on conservation efforts, little attention has been given to the daily experiences of individuals residing and working in the remote forest enclave. Their perspectives on the unique environment, interactions with the focal subject of their work, and encounters with diverse wildlife are rarely communicated, often only found in personal blogs. Similarly, the emotional aspects and challenges associated with demanding work remain underrepresented. Periodically, team members share such insights in emails dispatched from the forest camp to the wider world. These missives offer glimpses into camp life, encounters with wildlife, and convey the ambiance of village surroundings. They authentically capture moments that may never find their way into scientific reports. To share this unfiltered source of firsthand information with those interested in the work of Bonobo Alive, we will feature a selection of 'Mail from the Forest' on our website. To preserve the individuality of these narratives, the texts will remain untranslated, presented in the original language authored by each contributor.

Forest mails: