The mission of the Lukuru Wildlife Research Project (LWRP) is to conduct scientific research on, conservation of, and educational activities about fauna, primarily the bonobo (Pan paniscus), and flora within the region corresponding to the administrative Zone Dekese, Province Kasai Occidental, Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa.

The acronym "Lukuru" is derived from the names of the two major navigable water routes within the Zone, the Lukenie (which divides the Zone in half) and Sankuru (which defines the southern territorial limit of the Zone) Rivers. The hilly terrain within the Zone consists of irregular forest and grassland mosaic habitat increasing in elevation out of the southern periphery of the topographic Congo Basin. This Project area delineates the most southern limit, at latitude 4o South, of bonobo occupation within the species geographic distribution. 

In addition to the presence of the bonobo within the LWRP area a number of other endangered or little-known wildlife of particular conservation concern have been identified including Thollon's Red Colobus, Black Mangabey, Congo Peafowl, Congo Clawless Otter and others.

The goals of the Lukuru Wildlife Research project are:

• to promote and support scientific research on ecological studies of fauna and flora, primarily wild bonobos (Pan paniscus), and
• to promote and support conservation of the fauna and flora, primarily wild bonobos, through research and public education