'Historic homecoming' as endangered antelopes flown to Kenya from Czech Republic zoo
Summary
Four rare mountain bongos, a type of antelope native to Kenya, have been flown from a Czech Republic zoo to Kenya. They will be cared for and monitored before being released into the wild to help increase their population.Key Facts
- Mountain bongos are a rare chestnut-red antelope with white stripes and long spiral horns.
- Their numbers in the wild dropped from about 500 in the 1970s to fewer than 100 today.
- Four male bongos arrived in Kenya and were taken to a private wildlife reserve for recovery.
- The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) called this transfer an important step in saving the species.
- Bongos bred in captivity in zoos worldwide are part of efforts to strengthen the wild population.
- Before release, the animals go through a process to build immunity and adapt to the wild.
- Kenya aims to raise the mountain bongo population in the wild to around 700 by 2050.
- Previous repatriations have seen some bongos successfully live and breed in the wild, though disease remains a risk.
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