A pair of strong hands trample a ragged blue sweater under water. Lifting it out of the water, scrubbing it and plunging it back in. This process is repeated for a while, before the shirt is finally taking out of the stream to wring out the excess water, before starting the whole process again. The scene is pretty clear, a piece of clothing is being washed here.

Nothing strange about this scene, if it was not for the fact that the hands washing the sweater do not belong to a human. They are those of our closest relative: the Bonobo. Otherwise known as the pygmy chimp. And they are the smartest creatures I have ever seen.
 

Poaching

We are at a Bonobo sanctuary on the outskirts of Kinshasa. A reserve that for the past 15 years has saved baby Bonobo whose parents were killed by poachers.
 

As one finishes washing the shirt another one takes it from him. The shirt seems to be clean and can now be worn. So here is a little Bonobo trying to figure out how to wear it. He tries to put a feet in an opening of the shirt, but is in doubt about what to do next. Taking his foot out again he starts jumping on it.

He seems to spend an eternity amusing himself at figuring out the puzzle of putting on a t-shirt. After a while he slips one of the holes of the ragged shirt around his waist. He looks quite pleased with himself, but soon it starts he starts to feel uncomfortable. So he decides to take it off again.
 

In the adjacent nursery, baby Bonobos are being washed. I am busy filming when, all of the sudden, I feel a warm, soft small hand take hold of my shoulders. "No Kinshasa, don't!" I hear some of the women shouting. But, a second hand has already grabbed hold of my other shoulder and soon nestled comfortably on my back, is a beautiful black baby Bonobo.

Cuddly and soft

They are soft, cuddly and very warm. Lightweight and ergonomically wrapped around me, I could have carried him around all day. But playful and strong as they are, it made my job all the more difficult.

Outside in their play area they jumped on my head. Emptied all my pockets and the best game of all was pulling on the cables of the camera. For half an hour we had fun chasing each other around. Me desperately trying to get a good steady shot of them while them wanting to play with me and the camera.

(Photo : flickr.com mind of fireCC)