The Milwaukee County Zoo on Wednesday announced that a baby bonobo was born to Elema on May 30.
It’s exciting news because as the zoo notes, bonobos – native to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa – are endangered.
Milwaukee County Zoo is home to 19 bonobos, which is one of the largest populations of bonobos in human care. It’s only one of seven North American zoos accredited to manage bonobos by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The baby, which has not yet been named, is the first for Elema, who was born at the Columbus Zoo in 2012 and arrived here in 2021.
The zoo says bonobos are born small, between 2 to 4 pounds, and are carefully nurtured by their mothers for several years, which zoo spokesperson Megan O'Shea says is why she can’t yet confirm the weight or sex of the baby.
“Currently the mom, Elema, has been very protective of the baby, keeping her very close to her at all times,” O’Shea says.
“That’s common with bonobos. As they continue to adjust, our zookeepers will be able to confirm the sex of the baby and hopefully down the line get a weight.”
The baby is the 16th successful bonobo birth at the zoo.
“Elema is a highly attentive mother and holds her baby close or cradles the new addition in her lap,” according to a zoo statement.
“The animal care team noted that the entire troop helped Elema during the birth, gathering around her to support and protect. The troop will play a supportive role in the social development of the baby for many years.
“After spending time behind-the-scenes bonding, Elema and baby may now be viewed in the Apes of Africa outdoor habitat, weather permitting.”
For those of us still carrying sadness over the tragic loss of baby Mahal – the zoo’s playful little orangutan – in 2012 due to an infection, this feels like especially auspicious news, even though there have surely been other births at the zoo since.
For more on bonobos at the zoo, visit zoosociety.org/conservation/global-initiatives/bonobo-management-partnership.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press. A fifth collects Urban Spelunking articles about breweries and maltsters.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has been heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
