Slideshows:

• Meet Nyota
• Bonobos explore outdoor yard
• Play time results in bonobo dental work

Nyota

Name means “star” in Swahili

Birthday: April 4,1998

Parents: Panbanisha and P-Suke (1979-2006)

Born Where: Language Research Center at Georgia State University, Atlanta

Lived Where: Language Research Center, 1998-2005; Great Ape Trust, 2005-present

Language Comprehension: Nyota’s lexigram utterances have always been unusual and distinct. A common expression of his involves lexigram symbols for “quiet” and “think,” which researchers  translate to “let’s have some quiet time together.”

Favorite Foods: Grapes, blueberries, peanuts and M&Ms

Favorite Toys: Backpack

Favorite Activities: Now a precocious young adult, Nyota loves girls, ape and human alike. He loves playing chase with the other apes, his human caretakers and visitors. Through the glass of the observation room, he may offer or receive a kiss. He is a very social bonobo and loves one-on-one interaction with guests.

Favorite Game: Chase

What makes Nyota unique?

Nyota is instrumental to the scientific research trajectory as Great Ape Trust scientists and researchers investigate the cross-generational effects of language and culture in a second-generation bonobo reared in a bicultural environment.