In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw a Bonobo in 9 easy steps - great for kids and novice artists.
The images above represent how your finished drawing is going to look and the steps involved.
Below are the individual steps - you can click on each one for a High Resolution printable PDF version.
At the bottom you can read some interesting facts about the Bonobo.
Make sure you also check out any of the hundreds of drawing tutorials grouped by category.
How to Draw a Bonobo - Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: The Bonobo is a type of great ape and is closest living relative to mankind. Let's draw one by starting with the nose and mouth. Draw two small teardrops for the nostrils with two semicircles outside of them. Now add another curve underneath for the mouth.
Step 2: To start drawing the face of the Bonobo, draw a wavy line around the nose and mouth to make a tall round face shape.
Step 3: Add in the eyes by drawing two small lines at small angles. Add two semi-circles underneath the lines for the pupils.
Step 4: Now, extend the face shape up with a curve and add in a small circle for the ear. Now, draw an arc across to the left and add the second round ear. Then add one more small line behind that ear for the neck.
Step 5: Draw a long curve down for the back.
Step 6: Now draw the right arm by making two v shapes, one under the face and then another for the elbow. Use a small round line to close of the right side.
Step 7: Now add the left arm by bringing two lines all the way down at an angle and create a few fingers at the end of the hand. Notice how similar it is to the arm, hands and fingers of a person!
Step 8: To draw the right leg, make a long round curve that goes down under the arm. Than, create the long foot at the bottom by drawing a long tube shape. Add the long toes at the end as well.
Step 9: Finally, draw a curved line to create the last back leg behind the first.
Interesting Facts about the Bonobo
The bonobo is a type of great ape and is actually man’s closest living relative alone with the chimpanzee. Bonobos can only be found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in one small area that is a humid lowland rainforest. Bonobos are often discussed as the pygmy chimpanzee because it has s smaller body shape in comparison to its relatives.
Did you know?
- These apes are known to live in very large groups of up to 150 fellows!
- Similar to the chimp, these creatures have forearms that are longer than their legs along with long fingers and a black coat of fur
- Unlike chimps, bonobos have black faces
- Bonobos are very intelligent and social animals with interesting social systems
- One offspring is born at a time after eight months, which is then raised by its mother until they reach around five years old
- Bonobos spend almost all of their time in trees, even when finding food and making and sleeping in their nests
- When they do come down to ground level they travel by “knuckle walking”. Have you ever tried walking around like a bonobo?
The bonobo is considered to be on the endangered list and has been places on the IUCN Red List as well as the Appendix of CITES. Due to the fact that these apes aren’t so widespread in many areas they are threatened by habitat loss since large parts of rainforest are being cleared. Now bonobos are being protected by laws.
How to Draw a Bonobo – Step-By-Step Tutorial