UK's only bonobos troop take first look at new home at Twycross Zoo

A family of bonobos at Twycross Zoo have taken a first look at their brand-new enclosure - and are already making themselves right at home.

The habitat will be the new home for the Zoo’s family of 13 bonobos - and this week, they explored their newly refurbished outdoor habitat for the very first time.

Twycross Zoo is the only zoo in the UK to hold bonobos, an endangered species from the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are less than 20,000 individuals left in the wild, due to threats such as deforestation and poaching

As the only Zoo in the UK to house this Great Ape species, the new enclosure gives visitors the chance to get up close to our closest living relatives in the natural world, with humans and bonobos sharing 98% of their DNA.

Twycross Zoo is home to two groups of bonobos, including Lina (female aged 36), Lucuma (male aged 18), Rubani (male aged 5) and toddler Lola (female aged two). Their new habitat is larger than their previous enclosure with improved lighting and heating. It also includes brand-new climbing structures for the bonobos’ ongoing enrichment activities and two outdoor areas for each of the bonobo groups to explore.

Rebecca Biddle, Head of Life Sciences at Twycross Zoo, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome our bonobos to their new habitat. Bonobos have an inquisitive nature so it’s wonderful to witness them exploring the space for the first time and seeing them interact in a new environment.

“They now have more space to roam around and interact with one another, as well as more advanced climbing structures in the habitat. They have certainly been making the most of their new home.”