World Bonobo Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
Friends of Bonobos documents Ashley Stone/The Bonobo Project as the origin force behind World Bonobo Day, the 2021 merger into Friends of Bonobos, February 14 recurrence and continuing campaigns; U.S. House Resolution 738 is retained as later recognition, not a federal public-holiday law
About World Bonobo Day
World Bonobo Day is observed on February 14 to raise awareness of bonobos and their conservation.
Friends of Bonobos now carries forward the awareness work associated with The Bonobo Project after the two organizations merged in 2021.
Why World Bonobo Day matters
The day uses the Valentine’s Day date to connect public interest in love and social bonds with awareness of bonobos and the need to protect them and their Congo Basin habitat.
It is a conservation-awareness observance, not a statutory public holiday or a substitute for wildlife authorities, conservation professionals or local law.
History of World Bonobo Day
Friends of Bonobos says Ashley Stone founded The Bonobo Project and led the effort to create World Bonobo Day on February 14.
The Bonobo Project worked with U.S. Representative Scott Peters on House Resolution 738, introduced in 2018, which supported designation of World Bonobo Day and encouraged public education and conservation activity.
Friends of Bonobos announced in 2021 that The Bonobo Project was merging into the organization and credited it with the World Bonobo Day campaign.
Friends of Bonobos continues to publish World Bonobo Day campaigns and materials for February 14.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Ashley Stone / The Bonobo Project
Friends of Bonobos states that Ashley Stone founded The Bonobo Project and led the effort to create World Bonobo Day.
Institutional establishment
U.S. House Resolution 738 (115th Congress), as a later recognition/support resolution
Supported designation of World Bonobo Day and encouraged public conservation education.
U.S. House of Representatives · H.Res. 738 (115th Congress)
The Bonobo Project merged into Friends of Bonobos, which continues the awareness campaign.
Friends of Bonobos and The Bonobo Project
Friends of Bonobos
Friends of Bonobos absorbed The Bonobo Project in 2021 and continues current World Bonobo Day campaigns and materials.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe World Bonobo Day
Learn about bonobos from conservation organizations, zoological institutions or peer-reviewed wildlife sources.
Support reputable conservation, sanctuary or habitat-protection work that is transparent about how funds and programs are used.
Share accurate information about bonobos without turning uncertain population estimates or behavioral claims into fixed facts.
Follow wildlife laws and qualified conservation guidance rather than attempting direct handling, rescue or contact with wild animals.
World Bonobo Day Facts
World Bonobo Day is observed on February 14.
Friends of Bonobos credits Ashley Stone and The Bonobo Project with creating the observance.
The Bonobo Project merged into Friends of Bonobos in 2021.
U.S. House Resolution 738 in the 115th Congress supported designation of World Bonobo Day but did not create a federal public holiday.
Friends of Bonobos continues to promote the annual observance.
World Bonobo Day Messages
Happy World Bonobo Day—may February 14 bring thoughtful attention to bonobos and the forests they depend on.
Wishing conservationists, educators and communities a constructive World Bonobo Day focused on evidence-based protection.
May World Bonobo Day inspire curiosity about bonobos without overstating what science or population estimates can prove.
May awareness lead to practical support for bonobos, local communities and long-term conservation work.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
U.S. Congress — H.Res. 738 recognition (opens in a new tab)
Official Organizer Or Institutional
Friends of Bonobos — Ashley Stone origin interview (opens in a new tab)
Official Organizer Or Institutional
Friends of Bonobos — current World Bonobo Day campaign (opens in a new tab)
Official Organizer Or Institutional
Friends of Bonobos — merger / World Bonobo Day history (opens in a new tab)
Official Organizer Or Institutional
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is World Bonobo Day?
14 February The documented recurrence rule is: 14 February.
Does World Bonobo Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is World Bonobo Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: global bonobo awareness and conservation observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes World Bonobo Day?
The documented basis is: Friends of Bonobos documents Ashley Stone/The Bonobo Project as the origin force behind World Bonobo Day, the 2021 merger into Friends of Bonobos, February 14 recurrence and continuing campaigns; U.S. House Resolution 738 is retained as later recognition, not a federal public-holiday law. Supporting evidence includes Friends of Bonobos — merger / World Bonobo Day history. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is World Bonobo Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: global bonobo awareness and conservation observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-04.
When is World Bonobo Day?
It is observed on February 14 each year.
Who created World Bonobo Day?
Friends of Bonobos credits Ashley Stone and The Bonobo Project with leading the effort to create the observance.
Who coordinates World Bonobo Day now?
Friends of Bonobos continues to run World Bonobo Day awareness and conservation campaigns after The Bonobo Project merged into it in 2021.
Was World Bonobo Day recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives?
House Resolution 738 in the 115th Congress supported designation of World Bonobo Day and encouraged conservation education; it was a House resolution, not a federal public-holiday law.
Why is it on February 14?
Friends of Bonobos connects the Valentine’s Day date with public interest in love and the social behavior commonly associated with bonobos.
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These observances are also listed on February 14, 2027.
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