Lola people

One of the best and worst things about working in Africa is that its a package deal. You can't take bits and pieces of it...you get it all. Fortunately the people here are one of the good things and its always wonderful to spend time talking to everyone around the sanctuary. Their way of life is so foreign to me...in a lot of ways its simpler than the life I am used to both in terms of the ups and downs. The hardships are basic....food, water, money for their kids, and health. But their joys are basic, honest ones too and I often catch myself realizing how amazing that is when I see sincerity behind their smiles.

This is Blaze. he is one of the educators at Lola and he's incredible at getting the school children interested and excited about bonobos.

This is Susy. nothing is possible without her. She is a Congolese student who has been collaborating with Brian for a few years now and she is so helpful for our coordination with the sanctuary staff and testing the bonobos.

This is Papa Phillipe. He's one of the more senior keepers... he's kinda like my congolese grandfather.

Esperence is one of the younger mama's. Everywhere you see her there are a couple little b-bos following her around.

Stany is the head keeper at group 1, the main enclosure. He is infamous for his highly animated and...ugh...lengthy stories.


Paul is relatively new to full time work at lola and he helps separate the bonobos for our tests every day at 6 am. Then he cleans everything at lightening speed so that we can start testing by 8. Recently Paul's daughter passed away after developing a tumor which was not treatable in DRC. A lot of people worked hard to find her medical care but ultimately it was not possible.


But the amazing thing is the perspective that Paul seems to have maintained in the face of such incredible loss. He emanates warmness and keeps his head held high. I think its all anyone can do after a tragedy like that, but the strength it must require is beyond me. Two days ago I met a woman here who told me that she named her son Evan. A moment later I found out that he too had died as a child. Like paul, Katy shows up every morning ready to make the most of each day, and when she smiles you can tell that she doesn't take things in life for granted.

There aren't really words to describe what its like to be around Paul or Katy, but they have a presence in life that can't be overlooked.