Mountain bongo is therefore probably the most endangered large mammal of Africa. At the same moment we are breeding it in Prague Zoo and thanks to the initiative of our keepers we financially support the effort to save it in the wild. We already provided more than a half million Czech Crowns to the organization Month Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, which strives to restore the environment suitable for this antelope living a hidden life, and first of all to gradually rewild individuals reared in human care.

Following the mysterious antelopes through impassable terrain. Photo: Robert Aruho

The funds raised by our keepers by organizing programs for visitors were so far used in Kenya for buying photo traps and other equipment for monitoring bongos as well as planting forests. Together with legal and especially illegal hunting and infections by rinderpest the loss of the native forests is one of the main causes why mountain bongos have reached their current critical situation—despite tens of years of effort of many nature conservationists.

Two stars of American show business were at the beginning of systematic efforts to save the mountain bongo as early as in the 1960s. The first one was TV moderator Don Hunt, who was preparing a popular show on domestic and wild animals; the second one was Bill Holden, a Hollywood actor, who we still may remember for his role in The Bridge on the River Kwai. These two met in Kenya, quickly became friends and together with other partners bought a farm on the foothills of Mt. Kenya. There they founded Mount Kenya Game Ranch and later they helped to establish Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy. The key thing they achieved in mid 1960s was exporting 35 mountain bongos from Kenya to American zoological gardens. Later more of them were also sent to Europe. In this way the back-up populations, the importance if which is now invaluable, were created in human care. Thanks to 18 individuals transported from the United States in 2004 back to Kenya it was possible to start working on breeding mountain bongos in the area of their original occurrence and later gradually on adapting them to the life in vast enclosures. And other individuals should be hopefully soon brought from Europe.

Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy has established enclosures where bongos raised in human care adapt to life in the wild. Photo: Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

Therefore, the zoos are proving to be essential in saving mountain bongos in two ways: by breeding them and by financially supporting other necessary activities in Kenya.

By the way, currently there is underway another auction of experience programs, which our breeders, led by Lucie Křížová, are preparing in their free time to once again support the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy. We would be very happy if you would participate in this auction! You can find it here: https://aukro.cz/uzivatel/zooprahaofficial/nabidky

Keeper Lucie Křížová at Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy. Photo: Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo