Slideshows:

• Bonobos explore outdoor yard

Videos:

• A day in the life of Matata, Great Ape Trust bonobo matriarch

• Matata

• Clean Bill of Health for Matata

Matata

Birthday: 1970 (wild born)

Born Where: Democratic Republic of Congo

Lived Where: DRC, 1970-1975; Yerkes National Regional Primate Center, Atlanta, 1975-1980; Language Research Center at Georgia State Univesity, Atlanta, 1980-2005; Great Ape Trust, 2005-present.

Children: Matata’s children include Panbanisha, Elikya and Maisha. She adopted Kanzi from his natural mother, raising him as her son.

Language Comprehension: Dr. Sue Savage-Rumbaugh’s early research involved trying to teach Matata to communicate with lexigram symbols, but to no avail. Young Kanzi was with Matata during these sessions, and his spontaneous lexigram utterances redefined the study of ape language.

Favorite Foods: Overripe bananas

Favorite Toys: Blanket, bandana

Favorite Activities: Grooming

What makes Matata unique?

The only wild-born bonobo in the Great Ape Trust colony, Matata was one of five bonobos brought to the Yerkes center in 1975 as part of an effort, funded by the National Academy of Sciences, to establish a bonobo research station in DRC.

What is Matata’s special role in the Great Ape Trust bonobo group?

She is the matriarch and uncontested dominant member of the Great Ape Trust group. The other bonobos vie to spend time with her. A vigilant leader, she is always the first to send out alarm calls if she senses something is amiss.