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Four endangered antelopes arrive from Czech Republic
Four male mountain bongos, a critically rare antelope species native to Kenya's highland forests, landed in Nairobi late Tuesday after a journey from a Czech zoo. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) called the repatriation a "historic homecoming" and a key step toward reviving the species in the wild.
Population crisis and conservation efforts
Once numbering around 500 in the 1970s, fewer than 100 mountain bongos remain in Kenya's forests today-fewer than those held in global zoos, KWS reports. The species, known for its chestnut-red coat, white stripes, and spiral horns, has faced steep declines due to habitat loss and disease.
Breeding program aims to boost genetic diversity
The four males will join 102 bongos at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) to strengthen the gene pool and produce offspring for eventual reintroduction to the wild. KWS Director-General Erustus Kanga described the arrival as a "moment of hope" and a "renewed commitment" to saving the species.
"This is a meaningful step in securing the future of one of the world's rarest large mammals,"
Erustus Kanga, KWS Director-General
Adaptation and long-term recovery goals
Before release into the wild, the bongos undergo a phased adaptation process to build immunity and resilience. Prague Zoo, which sent the animals, said they would be closely monitored and gradually integrated into MKWC's breeding program to maximize genetic health.
In 2022, the conservancy reported mixed results from earlier repatriations: some bongos successfully bred in the wild, while others died from tick-borne illnesses. Last year, 17 bongos were brought back from a Florida conservation foundation, following an initial 2004 repatriation of 18 animals.
Kenya's 2050 target: 700 wild bongos
KWS leads a national recovery plan aiming to restore the wild population to 700 by 2050. On Wednesday, the agency shared images of the newly arrived bongos settling into their new habitat at the foot of Mount Kenya, calling it a "quiet but vital step" toward that goal.
About 400 mountain bongos currently live in captivity across North America and Europe, according to conservation groups.
