MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Zoo’s only adult male bonobo Mofana, called Mo by his keepers, passed away Friday night.
The zoo says the 35-year-old bonobo had cardiomyopathy, a degenerative heart condition. His heart likely failed while he slept.
“I’ve never seen an animal go in such a peaceful way,” said Matt Thompson, director of animal programs. “He was curled up in his nest, holding his foot like he usually slept.”
When Mo was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy several years ago, changes were made to his diet and lifestyle so he could continue living as normally as possible.
“Mo was a happy playful animal,” said Sandi Shoemaker, primate keeper. “He loved his keepers and really enjoyed playing slow games of chase with his kids. He had a tenderness about him that made you thankful to be a part of his life.”
Mo was with the zoo for more than 11 years, during which time he sired three offspring. Two sons were born in the last year and a half – Mobali is just more than 1-year-old, and Mpingo is four months old. Zoo staff recently determined the bonobo named Gilda is currently pregnant.
“It’s comforting to know that Mo’s sweet personality and goofy grin will live on through his sons,” Shoemaker said. “We can’t wait to see the newest arrival next spring.
The Memphis Zoo provided the following information about bonobos:
Bonobos live in remote regions of Africa and their numbers have dropped drastically over the last 20-30 years.. The extractive industries, which remove raw materials from the earth to produce goods for consumers, are especially harmful to the bonobos’ habitats. Fueled by recent demands for various rare earth elements, these industries have brought logging, mining and new roads that serve as conduits for poachers supplying products to the bushmeat trade.
An easy way to help with bonobo conservation is cellphone recycling. The Zoo has a cellphone recycling kiosk in our lobby where you can drop your old cellphones and join the movement to save this species.
In honor of Mo, the Zoo is encouraging the community to support its bonobo group through the adoption program. When you adopt an animal, your money goes directly to the care and support of that animal.