A rare Kenyan antelope species, the Mountain Bongo, has been repatriated from the United States, decades after being taken abroad by colonial authorities. With fewer than 100 remaining in the wild, conservationists hope this effort will help restore the critically endangered species in its native habitat.
Originally found only in central Kenya, the mountain Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci) is one of the world’s largest antelopes, known for its reddish-brown coat and white stripes. Many were sent to the U.S. and Europe in the 1960s under British colonial rule, leading to a drastic decline in their population at home.
On Sunday, a group of 17 Mountain Bongos—offspring of those sent abroad—arrived in Kenya from the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation (RSCF). They will be housed in the Marania and Mucheene sanctuary in Meru County as part of a long-term conservation plan aiming to increase their numbers to 750 over the next 50 years.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials confirmed that five more Bongos from European zoos are expected to arrive soon to enhance genetic diversity. The animals will undergo a three-month acclimatization period before being reintroduced into the wild at the foothills of Mount Kenya.
Tourism Minister Rebecca Miano emphasized the challenges the species has faced, including habitat loss, poaching, and disease, but reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to restoring the Mountain Bongo population.