dailyloe.com – Four critically endangered mountain bongos have returned to Kenya after years at a zoo in the Czech Republic. The bongos are on their way to their native forests. Their return highlights ongoing conservation efforts for this rare species.
The bongos arrived from Dvur Kralove Zoo in wooden crates aboard a KLM cargo flight. They were received at Kenya’s main airport by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Tourism Minister Rebecca Miano. Miano described the event as a ‘homecoming of the majestic bongos.’
Mountain bongos are known for their striking stripes and are critically endangered due to poaching and diseases. The Kenyan government reports that fewer than 100 mountain bongos remain in the wild.
Many bongos were sent to Europe in the 1980s following a rinderpest disease outbreak that killed thousands. This is the third return of bongos to Kenya in recent years, with the last return occurring in February 2025.
After undergoing quarantine and acclimatization, the bongos will be sent to the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy. This conservancy currently houses 102 bongos and is involved in a National Recovery and Action Plan for the species.
The plan aims to interbreed the new bongos to strengthen the gene pool. Kenyan-raised nature explorers Jahawi and Elke Bertolli emphasized that genetic variation is crucial for the conservation of mountain bongos.
They also noted that the species plays a vital role in protecting the forests essential for Kenya’s water supply. Czech Republic Ambassador Nicol Adamcova remarked that the relocation demonstrates a strong partnership between the Czech Republic and Kenya in conservation efforts.
Musalia Mudavadi commended all stakeholders involved in this initiative. He emphasized that such milestones show the potential of collaboration in achieving conservation goals.
