Camera traps recorded the presence of mountain bongos (Tragelaphus eurycerus) in the Maasai Mau forest, Kenya, where they were considered extinct. This sighting breaks with previous scientific estimates and opens new hope for saving the species from total disappearance.
Until now, it was believed that the only surviving populations lived exclusively in Aberdares, about 200 km away. The appearance in Maasai Mau, an area without legal protection, reinforces the need to expand conservation measures.
Characteristics of the bongo
The mountain bongo is the largest forest antelope in Africa, with reddish-brown fur, vertical white stripes, and long spiral horns. Its extreme rarity and shyness make monitoring difficult, according to the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Biaza).
The young are vulnerable to predators such as pythons, leopards, hyenas, and lions, although the main threat comes from indiscriminate hunting and commercial logging.
Human threats
The lowland bongo continues to fall victim to traps and trophy hunting in Central Africa.
The growing demand has wiped out entire populations. “They are the main target of trophy hunting safaris in Central Africa,” explained the African Wildlife Foundation.
Importance of the finding
For Tommaso Sandri, a conservationist at Chester Zoo and member of the Mountain Bongo Project (MBP), obtaining evidence in Maasai Mau is “extremely important news.” The key difference is that this forest is not a national park, which could drive new protection measures.
MBP rangers estimate that fewer than 40 specimens remain in Aberdares. The appearance in Maasai Mau suggests that more individuals may be hidden in the region.
Conservationists’ testimonies
- Oscar Dyer, MBP operations director: “Seeing a bongo here again is incredibly exciting and reinforces our determination to protect this forest and find more evidence of the species.”
- The images showed an adult male already identified in 2018, indicating that the animal has remained hidden for years.
Global conservation
Currently, zoos and private sanctuaries house about 900 bongos worldwide. Scientists agree on the need to:
- Reintroduce specimens into natural habitats.
- Strictly protect the remaining wild populations.
- Preserve genetic diversity through coordinated transfers.
Recently, four males born in Europe were transferred to a sanctuary in Kenya to strengthen the local population.
The reappearance of the mountain bongo in Maasai Mau is a milestone for conservation in Africa. This finding demonstrates that the species is not yet lost and that international cooperation is essential to ensure its survival. As Dyer noted: “The mountain bongo is not lost, but it needs us to act together.”
