Remembering Kanzi: Des Moines Honors the Bonobo Who Redefined Animal Language Research

Nearly eight months after his death, more than 150 people gather to celebrate Kanzi

Nearly eight months after Kanzi's passing, researchers, fans and collaborators convened at the Science Center of Iowa on Nov. 8, 2025, to honor the life and legacy of one of the most famous bonobos in scientific history. The memorial combined emotional tributes, art displays and scientific posters that highlighted Kanzi's extraordinary cognitive abilities and his impact on studies of language and animal cognition.

From Atlanta to Des Moines: a life that captivated scientists and the public

Kanzi was born on Oct. 28, 1982, in Atlanta, Georgia, to a female bonobo named Laurel and a male named Bosondjo. He became part of a closely followed lineage when Matata, the group's matriarch (who died in 2014), adopted him, according to Sara Skiba, director of communications at the Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative (Ape Initiative).

In 2005, Kanzi and his family relocated to Des Moines, where he continued to work with researchers and engage with visitors for many years. He lived to the age of 44 and became an international symbol for bonobo intelligence and animal cognition research.

Remarkable communication and playful curiosity

Video presentations at the memorial demonstrated Kanzi's ability to use thousands of lexigram symbols to communicate with caregivers and researchers. Attendees saw archival footage of interactions in which Kanzi understood spoken English and used lexigrams to convey requests and ideas. As Skiba observed, “Kanzi quickly became a sponge for human language.”

Other clips showed lighter moments that revealed Kanzi's curiosity and playfulness: he played the video game Pac‑Man, responded to music (including collaborations with musician Peter Gabriel), and even explored computer games in projects with collaborators like YouTuber ChrisDaCow, who helped teach him to play Minecraft.

“People couldn't deny the obvious intelligence that Kanzi showed. It was really mind-opening,” said Peter Gabriel in a recorded message.

Voices at the memorial

Speakers included Sara Skiba and Dr. Jared Taglialatela, president and director of the Ape Initiative and a longtime researcher on Kanzi, who reflected on how Kanzi's life mirrors both scientific progress and the ethical questions that accompany primate research. Photographer Joel Sartore described photographing Kanzi as working with a subject who could ‘‘pose on cue,’’ while documentary filmmaker Cloe Sarosh recalled Kanzi feeling like an older, well-traveled gentleman who had clearly “seen and experienced a lot.”

Charity Nebbe of Iowa Public Radio, who met Kanzi in his early years in Iowa, said: “To look into Kanzi's eyes, to ask him a question, to know that he could understand me and then answer in a language I could understand — it was an extraordinary and affirming moment.”

Legacy and ongoing work

In his final months, the Ape Initiative partnered with Wildstar Films on a documentary about Kanzi's life; that project remains in progress, Skiba said at the event. Attendees left with a renewed appreciation for Kanzi's role as an ambassador for his species and for the broader public conversation about animal minds and ethics.

Skiba closed the memorial: “Thank you, Kanzi, for all that you've done for the world. Your life — full of kindness, curiosity and playfulness — inspired hope and motivated many to pursue careers, education and hobbies connected to bonobos and animal cognition.”

Originally reported in the Des Moines Register.