There are thought to be only 100 animals left in the wild
Marwell Zoo have announced an incredibly rare new arrival in the form of a Critically Endangered Mountain Bongo calf. Born on September 4, the male baby bongo has already impressed keepers with his feistiness.
There are thought to be only 100 mountain bongos left in the wild so the new addition to Marwell’s herd is a real cause for celebration. Mountain bongos are a large species of antelope found in four distinct areas of Kenya where they live in forests and highlands.
The species is listed on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List as Critically Endangered and the new arrival is part of the international breeding programme to ensure the future of the species, which continues to decline in the wild.
Rhiannon Wolff, animal keeper at Marwell, said: “The team is excited to announce the birth of a male mountain bongo to mum Jumapili. “Mountain bongo are the largest and heaviest forest antelope species, and they can be found in four isolated populations in patches of forest in Kenya. “Their conservation status is currently Critically Endangered, with only around 100 animals left in the wild, with their numbers declining. “This calf is a very important part of the breeding programme and European Ex-situ Programme (EEP) (the species studbook) which endeavours to ensure the survival of this species.”
[Photo: Marwell Zoo/Gemma Davis]
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