In a conservation milestone, 17 rare mountain bongos were recently repatriated from Florida to Meru in Kenya. For over three decades, the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation has been at the forefront of efforts to save the critically endangered mountain bongo antelope. With less than 100 individuals remaining in the wild, RSCF’s US facility has become a vital stronghold, housing robust breeding groups of mountain bongos within a semi-wild enclosure system. Through strategic partnerships with US facilities, RSCF has developed a highly successful breeding program spanning multiple generations, ensuring the fitness and resilience of this endangered species.

The mountain bongos present in the United States are largely descended from animals that were originally taken from Kenya in the 1960s as part of a focused conservation effort to establish captive breeding populations in zoos and conservation facilities.

Kenya’s cabinet secretary for tourism, Rebecca Miano, said the country has a national action plan to continue growing the bongo population.

“Mountain bongos are a wildlife treasure among our animals; they are symbol of Kenya’s rich biodiversity. This moment is significant in our efforts to conserve and restore one of the world’s most endangered species,” Miano said in a press briefing.

The return of the bongos is crucial for ecosystem recovery, as their browsing habits naturally manage vegetation, fostering biodiversity and maintaining the health of forest environments.

Hooray, bongos!