Newly Observed Cases of Meat Eating by Bonobos at Wamba, DR Congo

Abstract

Two cases of meat eating and one case of meat holding by bonobos were observed at Wamba Forest, DR Congo. The target species was a flying squirrel in all cases. Wamba bonobos seem to have a specific “prey image” for flying squirrels. Compared with chimpanzees, meat eating by bonobos seems to be infrequent at Wamba, as well as at other bonobo study sites. One female ate mature Palisota hirsuta leaves with the meat. In both cases of meat eating, the prey was caught by adult females. Meat sharing was observed between adult females and between mother and infant. This may reflect the close relationships between females within bonobo groups.