Eight Decades of Devotion: Celebrating Claudine André's Legacy for Bonobos
From nursing one sick bonobo back to health to building a movement, a lifetime of care has transformed the future of a remarkable species.
It began with a single, ailing bonobo named Mikeno.
More than 30 years ago, while volunteering at Kinshasa Zoo, Claudine André was handed a sick bonobo and warned he would not survive.
She refused to give up on him — and that act of compassion set in motion a lifetime of work for bonobos.
From that first rescue grew an extraordinary legacy, now celebrated across eight decades of devotion.
Claudine's efforts gave rescued bonobos a second chance and helped build lasting care for a species found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Her work laid the foundations for the organization that continues to rescue, rehabilitate and protect these great apes today.
That ongoing mission is carried forward by Friends of Bonobos, an Ecoflix partner, which honours Claudine's example in its daily work.
Marking 80 years is a moment to reflect on how far one person's determination can reach.
What started with saving Mikeno has shaped the way the world sees and safeguards bonobos.
It is a story of patience, kindness and hope — proof that caring for one animal can change the course of many lives.
You can watch the story of this remarkable legacy and the bonobos it has helped to protect.