Bonobos: How the “Hippie Chimps” Can Transform Our World

Imagine a world where females are in charge, scores are settled by sharing food and having sex, and home is in a Peace Forest! Meet the bonobos, humankind’s closest great ape relatives, who coexist in harmony in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo.

Join us for an enlightening evening with conservationist Sally Jewell Coxe, as she shares lessons from her life’s work protecting bonobos and their rainforest habitat with the Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI). You’ll see that by helping bonobos and emulating aspects of their society, we can help ourselves and even transform our world.

Bonobos, often overshadowed by their more aggressive chimpanzee cousins, offer us valuable lessons in cooperation, conflict resolution, and compassion. Through non-violent means, including grooming, sharing resources, and sexual encounters, bonobos have mastered the art of peace. Sally’s talk will delve into how we, as humans, can learn from these traits and adopt them to address global issues such as inequality, political division, and environmental crises.

Inspired by the cooperative nature of bonobos, BCI and partners have created the Bonobo Peace Forest, a network of community-managed nature reserves supported by sustainable development. Pioneering a holistic paradigm for conservation, the Peace Forest benefits bonobos, people, and the forest simultaneously. With nine million acres of rainforest officially protected to date, this massive conservation area is still growing as more communities get involved.

Saving the Congo rainforest is a top priority for the world as we confront the growing threat of climate change. By protecting bonobos and their habitat, we can help protect the future of all life on Earth.

What You’ll Learn:

· Bonobo Behavior: Gain insight into the peaceful, egalitarian society of bonobos, their matriarchal leadership, and how they resolve conflict through empathy, affection, and cooperation.

· Human Parallels: Explore how bonobos' cooperative society can inspire human solutions to global challenges like poverty, violence, and climate change.

· Conservation in Action: Discover how indigenous knowledge and leadership is creating groundbreaking advances for conservation and local livelihood opportunities.

· Making an Impact: Learn about how bonobos can help you—and how you can help bonobos through raising awareness and protecting their irreplaceable rainforest home.

Who Should Attend:

This event is ideal for individuals passionate about primates, conservation, peace-building, social change, leadership, or female empowerment. If you’re interested in finding new ways to foster empathy, cooperation, and peace in your personal or professional life, this talk will offer you valuable insights.

We look forward to having you join us for an inspiring session with Sally Jewell Coxe, as we explore how embracing the peaceful, cooperative nature of bonobos can help create a better world for all.

For more information, see www.bonobo.org

Sally Jewell Coxe is president and co-founder of the Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI). Known as ‘Mama Bonobo,’ she has worked passionately for over 25 years to protect endangered bonobo apes, preserve the Congo rainforest, and empower local communities. Under Sally’s leadership, BCI collaborates with indigenous partners and government agencies to manifest their common vision for the Bonobo Peace Forest. An expanding network of community-managed nature reserves encompassing nine million acres to date, the Peace Forest is pioneering a whole systems approach that addresses humanitarian and conservation needs simultaneously. Sally's innovative work has been recognized in The New York Times, National Geographic, Time Magazine, The Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine, and the award-winning book Of Bonobos and Men.

Event Venue

Sunrise Center, 645 Tamalpais Drive, Corte Madera, United States