Experts from Chester Zoo are leading a landmark international effort to return one of Africa’s rarest and largest animals to its native home in Kenya with help from Liverpool John Moores University.
With fewer than 50 mountain bongos estimated to survive in the wild, four males bred in European zoos are set to be carefully translocated in the coming weeks.
This historic move marks the first time that bongos from the European conservation breeding programme will be transferred to Kenya to strengthen rewilding efforts.
The mountain bongo is a striking animal, recognisable by its rust-red coat, bold white vertical stripes, and long spiral horns.
Found only in the highland forests of Kenya, the species has been pushed to the edge of extinction by habitat loss and poaching.
Chester Zoo has spent over eleven years coordinating the breeding programme across Europe to ensure a genetically strong population exists to support this vital reintroduction.
A Landmark Collaboration for Wildlife Recovery
The four selected males are currently undergoing rigorous health checks and quarantine at a specialist facility in the Czech Republic before being flown to the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC).
Dr Nick Davis, Mammals General Manager at Chester Zoo, said:
“This is a truly historic moment for mountain bongo conservation in Africa and for the European zoos that have worked tirelessly to safeguard the species.
“The mountain bongo is one of Africa’s rarest mammals and perilously close to extinction.
“Thankfully, though, the species is thriving in conservation zoos across Europe, with a number of important births in recent years helping to build a healthy, genetically strong population.”
The collaboration involves the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). Dr Robert Aruho, Head of Conservancy at MKWC, noted the importance of the arrival:
“These males are a critical component of our rewilding programme.
“Having reached the milestone of 100 mountain bongos at Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, our focus now is on sustained growth, with a long-term national target of establishing at least 750 individuals by 2050.”
Using Technology to Protect the Species
Beyond the physical relocation of the animals, Chester Zoo is employing cutting-edge technology to ensure their safety in the wild.
In partnership with Liverpool John Moores University’s Conservation AI team, the zoo has helped develop the world’s first AI-powered detection system for mountain bongos.
These cameras provide real-time data on animal behaviour and health without human interference, revolutionising how the species is monitored.
Stuart Nixon, Chester Zoo’s Regional Field Programme Senior Manager for Africa, said:
“We’re at the forefront of bongo conservation and have been involved in breakthrough discoveries.
“Our newly developed AI-powered cameras are also revolutionising how the species is monitored in the wild, helping us protect them more closely than ever before.
“Combined with reintroduction efforts like this one, this work will change the tide for mountain bongos.”
This international partnership serves as a modern model for how science-led zoos can pull a species back from the very brink of disappearing forever.
