Mountain Bongo Antelope
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Seventeen critically endangered mountain bongos have been repatriated to Kenya from the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation in Florida.
This marks a major step in efforts to revive the species’ dwindling population in its native highland forests. The antelope's arrival is part of Kenya's National Recovery and Action Plan for the Mountain Bongo, which aims to increase the wild population to 750 within 50 years. Currently, fewer than 100 mountain bongos remain in the wild.
The bongos will be housed in a specialized isolation facility within the Marania and Mucheene sanctuary in Meru County for at least three months for acclimatization, under the guidance of experts from the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation. This sanctuary, a partnership between the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Rhino Conservation Trust, and local communities, will serve as a breeding and rewilding centre.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano emphasizes the significance of the initiative, stating that the 17 bongos would establish a founder population at the sanctuary before being gradually reintroduced into their natural habitat. The mountain bongos, now in their third generation since being taken to Florida in the 1960s, represent a successful international conservation effort.
"These 17 bongos will form a founder population at the Marania and Mucheene sanctuary in Meru County, where they will be nurtured, protected and gradually reintroduced into their natural habitats," says Miano.
Their return highlights the potential of collaborative projects in wildlife preservation, according to Miano. KWS Director General Erustus Kanga affirms the critical need for continued conservation efforts to safeguard Kenya’s wildlife. The species, which once thrived in Kenya's highland forests, has suffered significant population decline due to habitat loss, poaching, and disease over the last five decades.
"The return of these mountain bongos is not just a conservation success; it is a symbol of hope and renewal for Kenya's biodiversity. This initiative demonstrates what we can achieve when we work together, across borders, disciplines, and communities," Miano says.