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Mountain Bongo's Journey Home: Saving a Shy Antelope
24 May
Summary
- Four male mountain bongos repatriated from Czechia to Kenya.
- Mountain bongos are critically endangered with fewer than 100 in the wild.
- Conservation efforts have increased the bongo population to 179 in Kenya.
Four male mountain bongos, once residing in Czechia, have been repatriated to Kenya, their native land. This operation signifies a crucial effort to save a critically endangered species. The mountain bongo, known for its shy nature, is endemic to Kenya's highland forests and had fewer than 100 individuals in the wild.
The repatriation is the result of extensive collaboration between experts from England's Chester Zoo, the Kenya Wildlife Service, and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This initiative follows an earlier repatriation in 2004, with these four males intended to strengthen the conservancy's genetic diversity.
Conservation efforts have shown promising results, with the mountain bongo population in Kenya increasing to 179. The captive herd at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy has grown significantly, recently welcoming its 100th calf. These successes fuel the determination of conservationists like Ngenoh Erick Kibet and Christine Gichohi, who are committed to ensuring the species thrives in the wild.
