Our Expert
Jef Dupain
Tour Expert
In 1994, this Belgian primatologist set out for the Lomako Forest in one of the remotest parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to study the endangered bonobo, our closest living relative.
When civil war broke out in 1997, Jef was forced to flee the country, but not until he was in the path of armed troops. Determined to stay nearby, he spent his ‘exile’ in Cameroon, amassing valuable conservation lessons that would one day benefit bonobos and the forest habitat they need to survive.
In 2003, AWF hired Jef to head their conservation programs throughout the entire Congo Heartland and though his responsibilities now extend well beyond Lomako, he remains a passionate advocate for bonobos and has been instrumental in the creation of DRC’s first protected area, Lomako Yokokala Faunal Reserve.