Field Team of the LuiKotale Bonobo Project

Coming from a small place in the Italian Alps, I am interested in interactions and interdependence of organisms sharing the same ecosystem. Likewise, am fascinated by the biologic and cultural diversity of adaptations to different ways of living. I studied at the University of Turin and have a Masters’ degree in Science of Natural Systems. With funding from Erasmus, I was involved in a program planning an ecological corridor for habitat colonization of the plumbeous warbler, Setophaga plumbea, a bird that is native to the islands of Guadeloupe and Dominica. For my MSc, I studied Indri lemurs (Indri indri) in Madagascar, a project that draw my attention to the urgent need of conservation at a place where local communities still depend on natural resources. After a nine-month research assistant appointment in LuiKotale in 2025, I am returning in January 2026 to set up a project to assess the bonobo population in a large landscape. In addition, I will study migratory birds visiting the savannah patches and fringe forests of the research site.

I am a naturalist and photographer focusing on research projects on birds and mammals. I have worked in a variety of habitats including sub-Antarctic and Arctic islands, savannahs, and tropical, boreal and temperate forests. I specialize in tree climbing, which allows me to get into the canopies of tropical forests and explore their diverse fauna. Combining this skill with photography gives me an unusual perspective on arboreal species and provides me with new information about their behavior and ecology.

I studied mathematics with a minor in psychology and worked as a tour guide at Hannover Zoo during my studies. To combine my interest in analytical thinking with my fascination for animal behavior—especially primates—I recorded vocalizations of ring-tailed lemurs for my master's thesis and developed a deep learning model to automatically recognize, segment, and classify these vocalizations. In doing so, I not only discovered my love for field research, but also felt the desire to do something to protect endangered species. In March, I will join the field team and contribute to the long-term data collection of LuiKotale bonobos.

During my studies in Environmental Biology and Anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis, I discovered my passion for primatology. Using remote camera traps, I investigated the behavior and demography of an unhabituated population of Central African chimpanzees. After graduating, I spent my summer with the Uaso Ngiro Baboon Project in Laikipia, Kenya, studying the reproductive behavior of olive baboons. I am excited to join the LuiKotale Bonobo Project in January 2026, where I will contribute to the long-term data collection. I hope to pursue graduate studies focused on how individualized social relations affect the life history of primates.

I studied Global Change Ecology at the University of Trieste (Italy) where I developed a strong interest in conservation biology and behavioral ecology. I have always been drawn to fieldwork and in June 2024 I had the chance to work for nine months in South Africa as a field assistant studying the behavior of chacma baboons (Papio ursinus). This experience reinforced my passion for both, primate research and field work. From January 2026 onwards I will join the field team in LuiKotale to assist in a PhD project on male mating strategies.

I studied Conservation Biology at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar - Lagoa do Sino, Brazil), where I deepened my passion for primates and gained a strong understanding of community involvement in conservation. During my studies, I worked on mammal monitoring on campus and in nearby rural areas — a region with remnants of the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, two of Brazil’s most threatened biomes. These projects focused especially on the Black Lion Tamarin, an endangered native species and symbol of São Paulo State. I also led the Zoology Group (GEZ UFSCar LS), coordinating outreach and environmental education to raise local biodiversity awareness. My interests include behavioral ecology and ethnobiology, especially connecting scientific research with local knowledge. Since August 2025, I've been part of the LuiKotale Bonobo Project, working with a team whose mission aligns with my commitment to researching endangered primates and fulfilling my desire to contribute directly to field conservation.

I obtained a Master’s degree in Biodiversity Management from the University of Toulouse, where I developed a strong foundation in ecology, conservation, and field research. I am a passionate naturalist with a broad interest in herpetology, ornithology, and mammology. Over the past years, I have completed several field missions in mountainous regions of South Africa. In this context, I have studied the reptile communities and niche partitioning among selected species in the Soutpansberg. These experiences strengthened both my scientific skills and my enthusiasm for working in challenging and remote landscapes. I particularly appreciate environments that are still well preserved and offer opportunities for discovery and long-term conservation. From March 2026 onwards, I will join the LuiKotale Bonobo Project for one year as Camp and Research Manager.

I come from Zurich and am a trained electrician. Since 1986, I have been working as a freelancer as a lighting technician and machinist in the Swiss film industry, renovating houses and doing all the jobs that would otherwise require a craftsman. I also travel a lot and have cycled in Madagascar, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, and China. In Madagascar, I spent four days on the Masoala Peninsula in the jungle and ever since, I have been drawn to visit the tropical forests of our beautiful planet for a longer period of time. That has now worked out and I am really looking forward to putting my craftsmanship skills to good use in Luikotale and getting to know new people and the rainforest.

I studied psychological science and English literature at the University of Vermont. During my undergraduate studies I had the opportunity to explore my passion for wildlife biology through extracurricular fieldwork and volunteering opportunities. Following graduation, I spent a year (July 2024 – July 2025) observing spotted hyena behavior with the Mara Hyena Project (based out of the Maasai Mara Reserve in southwest Kenya). My combined experiences have fostered a love and appreciation for conservation, ecology, and long-term behavioral data collection. I’m excited to explore these interests with the Luikotale Bonobo Project starting in August 2025.

I graduated from Ghent University in 2024 with a Master’s degree in Evolution and Biodiversity. During an exchange, I had the opportunity to study Ethology at the University of Stockholm. For my thesis, I observed zoo-housed chimpanzees, and conducted research on aggressive behaviour in chimpanzees and bonobos. I investigated how the development of aggression differs between these two species, and how this ties into their evolutionary history. Apart from primate behaviour, my interests include human evolution and science communication. In this context, I worked as a teacher for biology and maths. In December 2025, I joined the Luikotale Bonobo Project as a research assistant and I am thrilled to finally work with bonobos in the wild. Afterwards, I will continue my studies on great ape behaviour and evolution.