Growing up, Jane Goodall was my absolute heroine. Listening to her speak about her experiences with chimpanzees was so incredibly moving to me as a little girl; I felt that the creatures she had lived with were the embodiments of pure generosity, emotional truth, and tenderness. Luckily, a few rare and special photographs can capture the depth of the humanity of species like the chimpanzee and others who share so much of our DNA.
Photographer Graham McGeorge’s work comprises such rare images. In a visit to Florida’s Jacksonville Zoo, George immortalized moments of wit, joy, curiosity, fear, and love, moments in the lives of young and old Bonobos.
The Bonobos naturally live in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but they are tragically endangered due to human conflict and environmental exploitation. They have adapted to be able to turn taps on and off, and there are incredibly attentive and loving with their young. McGeorge tells Mail Online, “I instantly grew attached to the Bonobos as they are fascinating primates – it has become almost an on-going study watching them grow up and get older and how they learn their mannerisms […] The babies are just like human babies, very comical, playing and fighting between each other. The mannerisms are just so close to the way we act – there is only one chromosome difference between us and you can really see it.” Take a look at these creature’s through McGeorge’s eyes; I think you’ll see that we’re not that different (they do have 98.7 percent of our DNA, after all)!
Baby Bonobo
A Friend of Baby Bonobo
Parent and Child Embrace
Parent Turns Tap on for Baby
Nap Time!
Play Time!
Feeding Time!
Love!
The Love!
Thanks to Mail Online and Graham McGeorge
Photos via Mail Online and Graham McGeorge
