Powell in Delaware County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Saving Bonobos

A labor of love

Photographed by Craig Doda, August 22, 2026

1. Saving Bonobos Marker

Inscription. Claudine André began helping orphaned bonobos in the early 1990s. In 1994, she founded Les Amis des Bonobos du Congo (Friends of Bonobos in Congo) to give others a way to help. This non-profit organization allowed her to gain the support needed to establish Lola ya Bonobo, the only bonobo sanctuary in the world, in 2002.

Rescue And Rehabilitation
Lola ya Bonobo, situated on 100 acres of forested hills outside Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, provides a safe haven for orphaned bonobos rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. The bonobos receive specialized medical care and are nurtured by human surrogate mothers to help recover from trauma and form social bonds.

Sanctuary Or Release
Some bonobos will live the rest of their lives at the sanctuary, while others may return to the wild at the world's only bonobo release site, Ekolo ya Bonobo Community Reserve. This 117,000-acre reserve partners with local community members to provide long-term protection of the rainforest and its wildlife.

Community Support
Les Amis des Bonobos du Congo partners with local communities to champion conservation, improve access

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

to healthcare, and strengthen community infrastructure.

Empowering People. Saving Wildlife.
The Columbus Zoo has provided over $500,000 to Les Amis des Bonobos du Congo and Lola ya Bonobo to support their important work with bonobo conservation and the local community. Claudine André, the organization's founder and champion of bonobos, was awarded the Columbus Zoo's first Commitment to Conservation Award.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1994.

Location. 40° 9.365′ N, 83° 7.319′ W. Marker is in Powell, Ohio, in Delaware County. It is at the intersection of Riverside Drive (Ohio Route 257) and Glick Road, on the right when traveling south on Riverside Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4850 W Powell Rd, Powell OH 43065, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Scioto Valley

and in the Columbus Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

Photographed by Craig Doda, August 22, 2026

2. Saving Bonobos Marker

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Colo (within shouting distance of this marker); Aldabra Giant Tortoise (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); We Care! (about 300 feet away); 1914 Mangels - Illions Carousel (about 300 feet away); Grand Carousel (about 400 feet away); Major Conservation Threats (about 400 feet away); Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (about 400 feet away); Alligator Answers (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Powell.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 9, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.