Ape Cognition & Conservation Initiative

Home
United States
Des Moines, IA
Ape Cognition & Conservation Initiative

The Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative (Ape Initiative) is dedicated to the science, conservation and protection of Great Apes worldwide.
(1)

WHAT IS APE INITIATIVE
The Ape Initiative is the only research facility in the world dedicated to the study and conservation of the species most closely related to humans – the endangered bonobo. The Ape Initiative is a federally-recognized non-profit organization - 501(c)(3) - and accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) as a Certified Related Facility. Our programs enrich the li

ves of our bonobos and give us a better understanding of our place in the natural world. Bonobos are an endangered species of African Great Ape with as few as 15,000 - 20,000 individuals in the wild. Understanding bonobo behavior, and how they interact with one another, is critical if we are going to save them. That’s why we developed a scientifically grounded conservation education program for students of all ages. Our goal is to inspire the next generation of scientists and educators by promoting scientific literacy and environmental stewardship.

08/05/2026

Mo, who got you smiling like that? 💚

Jay and Karen Whittle…because a Maisha window is officially sponsored!!

Help us thank Ape Initiative volunteers, Karen and Jay, for their generosity and dedication to the bonobos!!

Click the banner on our website, apeinitiative.org, to track our Sponsor A Window campaign progress 🔗🪟

08/04/2026

The Head And The Heart | A reminder of how much we share with bonobos 🧠💙

Alongside chimpanzees, bonobos are our closest living relatives. They build lifelong relationships, comfort one another during times of distress, cooperate to solve problems, and show empathy in ways that continue to broaden our understanding of what it means to be human.

Teco’s curiosity was on full display as he carefully examined the signed record, taking in every detail of the cover art through the glass 🎶✨

At Ape Initiative, we are proud to be the world’s only research center dedicated to studying and caring for endangered bonobos. Every day, our team works to advance scientific discovery while helping ensure a future for this remarkable species.

A heartfelt thank you to Erik at Crush Music for sharing some of The Head And The Heart magic with our team and the bonobos!

Follow along for more stories from the bonobos, the science behind their remarkable minds, and the people working to protect them 🌍🫶

08/03/2026

Elikya is waiting on that fresh breeze in the greenhouse!

Our matriarch will be pleased to know that an Elikya window is officially sponsored!

A huge thank you to Char and Mark Vukovich for their amazing generosity. Their gift brings us one step closer to upgrading our fixed panels into custom, operable windows to create an indoor-outdoor haven for Elikya and her family ❤️

With 16 total windows to upgrade, there are still plenty left to open for your favorite bonobo!

Sponsor a Full Window ($2,000): Get your name permanently engraved on a donor plaque visible to every student, researcher, and visitor!

Community Window (Any gift amount): Pool your gift with other supporters to fund a shared window!

Go to apeinitiaitive.org/sponsor-a-window

08/02/2026

Meet the Bonobos of Ape Initiative! ✨

Mali 🧡🧠

Super smart, driven, and the social glue of her family! Mali can be a bit shy at first, but she is the one who brings everyone together and is always up for a challenge.

Clara 🩷🌟

Confident, silly, and the matriarch-in-training! Clara has a huge personality, loves her food, and radiates total future-boss energy.

Teco 💙📦

The youngest, super playful, and a total Gen Alpha kid! Teco is an absolute sweetheart who can turn literally anything, especially a cardboard box, into a game.

Elikya ❤️👑

Laid-back lady in charge! As the official matriarch, Elikya runs the show with a calm, gentle vibe and is always keeping an eye on her family.

Nyota 💜🧃

Sensitive, thoughtful, and the ultimate juice king! Nyota is also hands-down the best nest maker in the building and loves any excuse to get cozy.

Maisha 💚🤪

The goofiest guy here, always up for fun, and the unofficial 4th member of Bonobo Girl Summer! Maisha, aka Mo, just wants to make everyone laugh.

Which bonobo’s energy are you bringing into today? Drop their name below! 👇

08/01/2026

Lounging in the outdoor tunnels = Nyota’s weekend vibe 🪹😴💜⭐️

07/31/2026

Nyota is having a !! 💜🙌

A huge thank you to the bonobos’ longterm supporters, Linda George and Matthew Hill, for sponsoring a greenhouse window for Nyota!!

To learn more about our Sponsor A Window campaign, click the banner on Ape Initiative’s website: apeinitiative.org 🪟☀️

07/30/2026

Be like Mali and Clara - Besties 4 Life! 🧡🩷

Happy International Day of Friendship from all of us at Ape Initiative 🫶

Alt text: A series of clips featuring two bonobo best friends, Mali and Clara, playing and laughing together

07/28/2026

Anything goes when you’re the son of the matriarch!

Boxes are the perfect destructible enrichment item and Teco always finds a new a creative way to use them 🤣💙

07/23/2026

Hosting our annual STEM camp with Iowa State University’s Science Bound scholars is always one of the highlights of our year at Ape Initiative! 🦍 🙌

Over the course of the week, these high school students step into the role of wildlife researchers and conservationists. They gather behavioral data using ethograms, practice diagnostic veterinary skills, analyze health datasets, like bonobo ECG readings, and design original, innovative projects focused on bonobo care, conservation, and outreach.

Creating early, direct access to research gives students the technical skills and confidence they need to strengthen the future STEM workforce. Seeing these scholars apply real-world science, right here in their own community, reinforces how vital accessible, immersive education is for Iowa students. 🌍🔬

A major thank you to our Director of Education, Dr. Sarah Huneycutt, whose vision and dedication continue to make this partnership so impactful for the students and staff.

We are also deeply grateful to the community members from Krause Group, the Great Outdoors Foundation, Corteva Agriscience, and Blank Park Zoo who attended the student showcase last week. Having leaders from across our community engage directly with these scholars provides invaluable professional feedback that validates the students’ hard work, and builds connections for their education and career paths in STEM. 🫶

Swipe through to see these future science and conservation leaders in action! ➡️

07/21/2026

Teco’s window is officially sponsored! 🪟💙

A massive thank you to the bonobos’ long-time friend and supporter, Darci Hartman, for sponsoring a greenhouse window! Darci shared that Teco’s sweet kisses through the glass completely melted her heart. Darci’s gift brings us one step closer to making these new, operable windows a reality for Teco and his family!

We have raised over $12,000 so far, but we still have $20,000 left to go to complete the renovation and turn this hot sunroom into a breezy, year-round space.

Want to help us open the next window?

Sponsor a Full Window ($2,000): Get your name permanently engraved on our donor plaque (individual or group sponsorships welcome!).

Community Window (Any amount): Pool your gift with other supporters to fund a shared window!

👉 Tap the link in our bio to donate or sponsor a window today: apeinitiative.org/sponsor-a-window

Address

4200 Evergreen Avenue
Des Moines, IA
50320

Telephone

+15152433580

Website

http://www.apeinitiative.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ape Cognition & Conservation Initiative posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Ape Cognition & Conservation Initiative:

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Des Moines?