17 Rare American Mountain Bongos Are Received by Kenya in a Significant Conservation Effort

The United States has sent 17 rare mountain bongos to Kenya, which will help reestablish the severely endangered species.

An important step has been taken in the restoration of the declining mountain bongo population in Kenya with the transfer of 17 highly endangered animals from a U.S. conservation institute.

The antelopes, which came from Florida’s Rare Species Conservation Foundation, are third-generation offspring of mountain bongos that were first imported from Kenya in the 1960s. As the species’ numbers in the wild are alarmingly declining, its reappearance has been heralded as a “monumental step” in conservation.

There are now less than 100 mountain bongos left in the wild, compared to roughly 500 in the 1970s, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). Poaching, disease, illegal activity, habitat degradation, and population fragmentation have all contributed to their sharp decrease. There are more mountain bongos in captivity than in their native environment, making them Critically Endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Rebecca Miano, the minister of tourism, called the animals’ Sunday night arrival at Nairobi’s major airport “emotional and so cool,” emphasizing the importance of the event for Kenya’s travel and conservation industries. After being moved to wildlife sanctuaries in Meru County, close to Mount Kenya, the bongos will be raised before being progressively returned to the wild.

With its remarkable chestnut-red coat and tiny white stripes, the mountain bongo is the largest antelope found in African forests. According to Ms. Miano, the species, which was formerly unique to Kenya, has “suffered untold grief over the decades… dwindling to alarming proportions,” underscoring the significance of their return. By 2050, the government hopes to increase the population to 700.

In the past, Kenya has made comparable attempts to reintroduce the species. 18 mountain bongos were flown in as part of the first repatriation attempt in 2004. While some were able to adapt and breed effectively in the environment, others had compromised immune systems and fell prey to diseases spread by ticks. According to experts, captive bongos must gradually adjust in order to build the immunity required to live in their native environment.

Kenya anticipates receiving more mountain bongos from European zoos in the next three months, according to KWS Director-General Erastus Kanga. Kenya is dedicated to preserving one of its most iconic species, as evidenced by its ongoing endeavor.