Sex-crazed apes nevertheless on brink of extinction

A rare species of ape, the bonobos-- believed to be the closest species to humans -- are endangered and on the brink of extinction. Its not for lack of trying to reproduce, as the apes are famous for having sex almost constantly. These frisky apes have sex in virtually every position, including face to face (you know, like people!) and even negotiate conflict with sexual favors. The apes' preoccupation with making love means that, unlike humans or chimps, they rarely fight and never murder members of their own species. However, their naturally low fertility rate, in addition to the brutal circumstances of the recent civil war in their home of the Democratic Republic of Congo, have led their numbers to drop from 100,000 to 5,000 in existence outside of captivity.

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