Powell, OH—The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is morning the loss of Toby, a beloved male bonobo who was one of the first four bonobos providing the foundation of Zoo’s successful bonobo program.
Toby was diagnosed several years ago with high blood pressure that was being treated. He sustained a significant stroke on Wednesday afternoon and did not regain consciousness. After emergency intensive care and consultation with specialists, the conclusion was reached that Toby would not recover, and the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize him. Estimated to be 42 years old, Toby exceeded the median life expectancy (31.3 years) for male bonobos in human care by almost a decade.
Along with fellow bonobos, Jimmy, Lady, and Susie, Toby arrived at the Columbus Zoo in November 1990 from the Limburgse Zoo in Belgium. He was considered to be the second most genetically valuable male in the globally-managed bonobo population.
While living at the Columbus Zoo, Toby sired three offspring, including female, Elikia (born in 2000 to mother, Lucy, and who since passed away at the Milwaukee County Zoo in 2016); male, Andy (born in 2004 to mother, Lucy, and now lives at the Fort Worth Zoo); and female, Lola (also born in 2004 to mother, Susie, and now lives at the Milwaukee County Zoo).
His devoted care team fondly remembers Toby for his squeals and grunts of excitement (especially when he had a mouthful of food and biscuits); the way he nodded his head and reached his hand out to greet his care team; how he spent quality “boy time” with Gander (an adorable duo with one of the smallest males hanging out with one of the largest males); his friendly, easy-going nature and ability to bring a smile to everyone’s faces; and for being the king of “bed head” due to his “crazy” hair.
Toby was also a favorite among Zoo guests, who are in the unique position of having the opportunity to learn more about this important and rare species right here in Central Ohio. In fact, the Columbus Zoo is one of only eight facilities in North America that currently house bonobos, the last ape species discovered by western scientists in 1929. Research has shown that bonobos and chimpanzees are more closely related genetically to humans than they are to gorillas. In fact, bonobos are humans’ closest living relatives, and we share 98.7% of the same DNA.
Bonobos are also the least-known great ape species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists bonobos as endangered, primarily due to habitat destruction through logging and bush meat hunting. Only 5,000-20,000 bonobos are estimated to be living in a very small range in the equatorial forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which makes protecting them more critical.
The Columbus Zoo supports conservation projects working to help bonobos in their native range, specifically through Lola ya Bonobo, the world’s only sanctuary for the species. In 2013, the Columbus Zoo also awarded the organization’s founder, Claudine André, with the Zoo’s inaugural Commitment to Conservation Award, which included a $50,000 grant. Claudine and her Congolese staff have rescued and cared for hundreds of bonobos and in 2010, they organized the first-ever successful reintroduction of bonobos back to their native range.
“Bonobos are gentle, playful, and highly-intelligent, and—unfortunately—still very much in need of conservation support and awareness as they continue to face serious threats in their native range. We are proud that the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium serves a direct role in working to protect them and contributing to knowledge about this rare species. Toby was beloved by his Animal Care team and our guests, and he will always hold a very special place in our hearts. As one of the original founders of the Columbus Zoo’s bonobo program, Toby had a tremendous impact on the future of his species,” said Audra Meinelt, curator of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s Congo Expedition region.
To continue Toby’s legacy of raising importance awareness about bonobos and to inspire people to take action to help protect them, Columbus Zoo guests are encouraged to visit the bonobos and observe their fascinating behaviors. Bonobos live in a fission-fusion society, which means the size of the group (14 individuals) in a given area changes throughout the day. Sometimes, guests will see many of the bonobos together in one place (fusion), and other times, they can be observed split into small groups (fission). Bonobo societies are also female-led, making them the only matriarchal great ape species. Known for their peaceful nature, bonobos demonstrate a rare behavior in the animal kingdom. Scientists have documented bonobos (both in zoos and in their native range) openly and willingly sharing food and shelter with other bonobos unfamiliar to them.
Additional actions can also make a difference for the future of bonobos and other species such as:
- Recycling old cell phones and other small electronic devices to reduce the demand for Coltan, a mineral mined in bonobo habitat
- Downloading the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Sustainable Palm Oil app to help guide you in purchasing common products that are wildlife-friendly
For more information about the animals and global conservation efforts supported by the Columbus Zoo, be sure to follow the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and visit us at ColumbusZoo.org.
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About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads and inspires by connecting people and wildlife. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a regional attraction with global impact, annually contributing privately raised funds to support conservation projects worldwide. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Columbus Zoo has earned Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-star rating.
