Kenya Welcomes 17 Rare Mountain Bongos From US In Major Conservation Effort

Kenya has received 17 critically endangered mountain bongos – a very rare type of antelope – from a conservation centre in the United States, marking a significant milestone in efforts to restore the species’ dwindling population.

The antelopes, which arrived from the Rare Species Conservation Foundation in Florida, are third-generation descendants of mountain bongos originally taken from Kenya in the 1960s. Their return has been hailed as a “monumental step” in conservation, as the species faces an alarming decline in the wild.

According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), fewer than 100 mountain bongos remain in the wild, down from about 500 in the 1970s. Habitat loss, poaching, illegal activities, disease, and fragmented populations have contributed to their rapid decline. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the mountain bongo as Critically Endangered, with more individuals in captivity than in their natural habitat.

Tourism Minister Rebecca Miano described the animals’ arrival at Nairobi’s main airport on Sunday night as both “emotional and so cool,” highlighting its significance for Kenya’s tourism and conservation sectors. The bongos have since been transported to wildlife sanctuaries in Meru County, near Mount Kenya, where they will be nurtured before being gradually reintroduced into the wild.

The mountain bongo, the largest African forest-dwelling antelope, is known for its striking chestnut-red coat and narrow white stripes. Ms Miano emphasised the importance of their return, stating that the species, once exclusive to Kenya, had “suffered untold grief over the decades… dwindling to alarming proportions.” The government’s goal is to grow the population to 700 by 2050.

Kenya has previously undertaken similar efforts to reintroduce the species. In 2004, 18 mountain bongos were flown in as part of an initial repatriation effort. Some successfully adapted and bred in the wild, while others succumbed to tick-borne diseases due to weakened immunity. Experts say that bongos from captivity must undergo gradual adaptation to develop the immunity needed to survive in their natural habitat.

KWS Director-General Erastus Kanga confirmed that Kenya expects another batch of mountain bongos from European zoos within the next three months. This continued effort reflects Kenya’s commitment to ensuring the survival of one of its most iconic species.

Melissa Enoch

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