Waziri Mayai Wa Maradhi
JF-Expert Member
- Jan 28, 2026
- 383
- 94
Four male mountain bongos from European zoos are scheduled to be delivered to the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) in an effort to increase the population of one of Africa's most endangered antelope.
Experts from Chester Zoo in England oversaw the transfer, working with the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
The Chester Zoo noted in a statement to Mongabay that its specialists coordinated a breeding effort among European conservation zoos for over 11 years. "As part of a rewilding effort, the four males that have been chosen based on age, health, and genetics will be the first to ever be transferred from European zoos to Kenya."
According to the most current IUCN assessment from 2016, there were only 70–80 adult forest-dwelling antelope left in the wild, all of them in Kenya, making them critically endangered.
Mountain bongos saw a brief rise in the wild population within the past ten years. According to the Kenyan national wildlife census data, there were only 66 wild mountain bongos in 2025 compared to about 150 in 2021.
Poaching and habitat loss are the two main causes of the species' demise, according to Kenyan biologists.
Four male bongos can be flown to Kenya after passing "rigorous health checks and quarantine," where they will be attentively observed before being added to the breeding program, according to Chester Zoo.
According to a statement by MKWC head of conservancy Robert Aruho, "these males are an essential part of our rewilding program." With over 100 animals in the captive breeding program, MKWC's "focus is on sustained growth, with a long-term national target of establishing at least 750 individuals by 2050," according to a statement Aruho gave to Mongabay.
Source: Mongabay website
Experts from Chester Zoo in England oversaw the transfer, working with the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
The Chester Zoo noted in a statement to Mongabay that its specialists coordinated a breeding effort among European conservation zoos for over 11 years. "As part of a rewilding effort, the four males that have been chosen based on age, health, and genetics will be the first to ever be transferred from European zoos to Kenya."
According to the most current IUCN assessment from 2016, there were only 70–80 adult forest-dwelling antelope left in the wild, all of them in Kenya, making them critically endangered.
Mountain bongos saw a brief rise in the wild population within the past ten years. According to the Kenyan national wildlife census data, there were only 66 wild mountain bongos in 2025 compared to about 150 in 2021.
Poaching and habitat loss are the two main causes of the species' demise, according to Kenyan biologists.
Four male bongos can be flown to Kenya after passing "rigorous health checks and quarantine," where they will be attentively observed before being added to the breeding program, according to Chester Zoo.
According to a statement by MKWC head of conservancy Robert Aruho, "these males are an essential part of our rewilding program." With over 100 animals in the captive breeding program, MKWC's "focus is on sustained growth, with a long-term national target of establishing at least 750 individuals by 2050," according to a statement Aruho gave to Mongabay.
Source: Mongabay website
