A critically endangered type of antelope, the eastern mountain bongo, has welcomed a calf into the world at Woburn Safari Park in the UK, marking a significant milestone for global conservation efforts.
With fewer than 100 of these remarkable animals remaining in the wild, the birth of this calf is particularly momentous, as it is the first eastern mountain bongo born at the Bedfordshire park in over a decade. Tom Robson, Head of Reserves, expressed hope that the new calf will eventually move to another wildlife facility to help establish a breeding group.
On October 16, 2024, first-time mother Othaya gave birth to a healthy male calf as part of an endangered species program organized by the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “After a long labor, the calf was born and quickly began to stand on his wobbly legs in the deep straw bedding prepared for him,” Robson explained.
Sonny, the calf’s father, joined the park’s bongo herd last November, where he successfully mingled with the females and displayed breeding behaviors shortly after his arrival. The young calf has been seen exploring his stable environment while staying close to his mother as he gains confidence on his legs.
Eastern mountain bongos, native to the forested regions of Kenya, face dire threats from poaching and habitat loss, with experts estimating they could vanish from the wild within the next two decades. The park hailed the calf’s birth as a “significant success story” in its ongoing conservation efforts.