Kenya strives to preserve rare Bongo antelope species

Recently, five Bongo antelopes have been released to a reserve in Kenya, marking an important milestone in the battle for the survival of this animal that currently has less than 100 individuals left in the wild.

Listed as critically endangered, the chestnut with white stripes is one of the largest forest antelope species and is native to the rainforests of the four regions of Mount Kenya, Eburu, Mau and Mau. and Aberdares of Kenya.

A critically endangered Bongo antelope is seen at Mount Kenya Wildlife Sanctuary near Nanyuki, Kenya, March 9, 2022.

A recent wildlife survey in the East African country counted only 96 Bongo antelope left in the wild. According to predictions of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the number of Bongo antelope will continue to decline without direct intervention.

Mount Kenya Wildlife Service (MKWC), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) are leading a 20-year program of breeding and re-releasing Bongo antelope species. past year.

Specifically, 18 Bongo antelopes (4 males and 14 females) were brought from 14 zoos across the US to MKWC in the town of Nanyuki, near Mount Kenya. Five individuals released to the 314-hectare Mawingu reserve on March 9 are the 'descendants' of the Bongo antelope from the US.

These species once roamed in large numbers, but their populations have been severely depleted since the 1950s due to poaching, wildlife trade, predation and disease, especially outbreaks outbreak of cattle plague in the 1980s.

Dr Robert Aruho, head of veterinary services at MKWC, said: 'The real work has just begun. We have to make sure that the released Bongo are able to thrive and survive in the reserve and ultimately in the wild."

 
Two of the five Bongo antelopes were released to the Mawingu Conservation Area near Nanyuki, Kenya on March 9, 2022.

The pristine Mawingu Reserve includes a natural forest that provides a large open space for the continued release of Bongo antelopes in preparation for their survival in the wild. The long-term vision of the Kenyan government is to grow the Bongo antelope population to 750 by 2050.

Accordingly, each year, 10 individuals of Bongo antelope will be released to the reserve, divided equally into 2 waves, each release 5 animals. It is estimated that by 2025, the reserve will have between 50 and 70 individuals of Bongo antelope fully released.

Kenya's Wildlife and Tourism Minister Najib Balala said: 'The Bongo is one of Kenya's iconic animals. This species can only be found in Kenya, and it is critically endangered. The establishment of a protected area is an important step in helping to effectively implement the process of re-releasing them'.

According to wildlife experts in Kenya, the long-term success of releasing Bongo antelope and ensuring its survival in the wild depends largely on the support of local communities in the areas. around, as most of the threats to population decline of this species come from humans.

The conservation agency is working with these communities to restore degraded forest areas on Mount Kenya through a reforestation program. Accordingly, 3,000 community members have been mobilized to participate in planting more than 35,000 native tree species, with a plan to plant 5,000 more trees this year.