Hi, does anyone know why bonobos aren't common in the UK and Ireland. Twycross zoo is the only zoo which has them currently.
A combination of things. Up until recently no other zoos were massively interested in bonobos - to the public they’re just skinnier chimpanzees. There was also an issue with there not being enough for multiple zoos to get them, and the former CEO of Twycross kept on blocking any other UK zoos from getting them so that they could keep the ‘only zoo with all four “types” of great ape’ moniker. Thankfully Sharon Redrobe isn’t as biased, so more UK zoos will be getting bonobos in the next few years.