Studbook of Pan paniscus Schwarz, 1929

On the basis of information provided by various zoos who have, or used to have, Pan paniscus in their collections, as well as information in the International Zoo Yearbook or in the literature, an approximate outline has been given of our knowledge of this animal since the description given in 1929 by Schwarz. The status of species is preferred to that of subspecies. The question whether the bonobo should be regarded as a true dwarf form is considered. It is, however, emphasized that the majority of researchers - and for different reasons - consider the species to be the primate closest to man.