Rare Antelope Returns to Native Forests

Conservationists in Kenya are successfully reintroducing critically endangered mountain bongos into the wild, raising hopes for the recovery of one of Africa’s rarest antelopes.

“We want bongos that are not only strong in body, but strong in the genes they pass to the next generation,” said Dr Robert Aruho, head of Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy.

Fewer than 100 mountain bongos remain in the wild, but breeding and rewilding efforts have already increased the conservancy’s population to 102 animals. The programme has imported new bongos from Europe to improve genetic diversity and has monitored released animals closely since the first 10 were returned to the wild in 2022. Four calves have since been born in their natural habitat, a sign the shy antelope known as the “ghost of the forest” is adapting successfully. Conservationists aim to restore the wild population to 750 bongos by 2050 while helping protect Kenya’s important forest ecosystems and water sources.