Searching for Bonobo in Congo

Is this Lesula curious?

After all, the camera trap is a novelty, although it strives to be too cryptic to notice.

Most often animals march right by, or continue unperturbed with the day’s business…

This is true of elephants,

of bonobos,

of leopards…

A discrete camera will record who is there and what they are doing…

But, once noticed the camera trap elicits a response that can seem like

Surprise,

These bonobos are at least mildly spooked.

Alarm,

Perhaps it is the metallic taste or a residual human odor.

or Curiosity.

Is the leopard trying to elicit a reaction?

Even Congo Peafowl seem intrigued….are they seeing their reflection in that bit of glass?

And a group of Lesula, newly discovered terrestrial primate species, gather to examine it from a few angles.

But generally the camera trap inspection and “mild alarm” do not result in marked avoidance or any perceptible change of behavior. Nevertheless, the elephant’s “curiosity” — not surprisingly – has led to loss of camera traps. A sort of innocent thievery.

Elephants moved over a camera trap grid set up on the Losekola study area in the northern Lomami Park. Where the dung was most abundant, the camera trap disappeared.

So be it….