How Kenya's breeding efforts are saving the Mountain Bongo from extinction

Some of the mountain bongos that were repatriated from US in February at the Mountain Bongo and Rhino sanctuary in Meru County, on March 29, 2025. [File, Standard]

At dawn, when mist still clings to the slopes of Mount Kenya, a rare calf named Mia takes her first tentative steps under the watchful eyes of conservationists.

Alert and curious, Mia cautiously explores her surroundings while staying close to her mother. Her playful interactions with other bongos hint at a promising start, and experts note that early socialisation is vital for developing survival skills in the wild.

Mia’s chestnut coat, fragile yet defiant, marks a significant milestone: she is the 100th Mountain Bongo born under a conservation programme that began more than two decades ago. Few believed such a feat was possible for one of the world’s rarest antelopes.

For Kenya, Mia’s birth is more than a number. It is a moment to reflect on the country’s conservation past and a signal of what can be achieved when science, community engagement, and long-term commitment converge.

The Mountain Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci), the largest and rarest forest antelope in Africa, is found only in Kenya’s highland forests. Once widespread across Mount Kenya, the Aberdare Range, and Eburu Hills, the species now symbolises both the quiet encroachment of extinction and the painstaking path to recovery.

Unlike declines among more visible wildlife, the Mountain Bongo’s disappearance was gradual. Forest clearance for agriculture, expanding human settlements, bushmeat hunting, and indiscriminate snaring steadily reduced habitat and numbers. By the late 20th century, confirmed sightings were exceptionally rare.

Current assessments list the Mountain Bongo as Critically Endangered, with fewer than 200 individuals estimated to survive in the wild. Some surveys suggest even lower numbers, highlighting the vulnerability and fragmentation of remaining populations.

The decline carries broader ecological implications. As a forest-dependent species, the Mountain Bongo acts as an indicator of ecosystem health. Its disappearance signals deeper challenges in Kenya’s water towers—forests that regulate rainfall, store carbon, and feed rivers relied upon by millions.

Bold decision

In 2004, conservationists made a bold decision: 18 Mountain Bongos were repatriated from captive populations in the United States to Nanyuki, forming the foundation of what would become the Mountain Bongo Breeding and Rewilding Programme at Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC).

The move was not without controversy. Repatriation and captive breeding are often criticised as last-resort measures, expensive and uncertain. Yet for the Mountain Bongo, few alternatives existed.

Over the next two decades, the programme invested in genetic management, veterinary care, habitat restoration, and behavioural conditioning, ensuring that animals retained the instincts necessary for survival in the wild.

By January 2026, those efforts culminated in Mia’s birth, the 100th calf, a landmark signalling not only population growth but programme maturity.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director-General Prof. Erustus Kanga says the milestone reflects over 20 years of dedication.

“It represents the work of conservation teams, researchers, veterinarians, and wildlife managers whose commitment has been critical to the recovery of this species,” he said.

KWS works alongside MKWC in the breeding and rewilding programme, providing regulatory oversight, technical support, and long-term planning for reintroduction into protected areas.

“The bongo didn’t vanish overnight. It faded from the landscape. By the time people realised what was happening, the species was already hanging by a thread,” he added.

A major breakthrough came in 2022 with the opening of the Mawingu Mountain Bongo Sanctuary, the world’s first wild sanctuary dedicated exclusively to the species. Unlike traditional enclosures, the sanctuary provides a semi-wild environment where bongos can forage naturally, form social structures, and adapt to forest conditions with minimal human interference.

Dr Robert Aruho, Head of Conservancy at MKWC, explains that the goal is preparation, not permanent captivity.

“Reaching this milestone is both a celebration and a challenge. It gives us momentum and confidence, but reintroducing a self-sustaining population into the wild is the ultimate test,” he said.

Planned reintroduction sites include Mount Kenya, the Aberdares, and Eburu Forest—areas where bongos once thrived, but now require ongoing protection from poaching and encroachment.

Reaching 100 births is also significant for genetic management, reducing the risks of inbreeding and disease that threaten small populations. “This milestone shows the species can recover if given the right protection, but breeding alone will not save the Mountain Bongo. The forests it depends on must also be protected,” Dr Aruho said.

Community role

For Humphrey Kariuki, patron of MKWC and an IUCN Patron of Nature, the milestone reflects decades of coordinated breeding, habitat restoration, and community engagement.

“Protecting the Mountain Bongo safeguards Kenya’s unique biodiversity and preserves a vital part of our natural heritage for future generations,” he said.

Community involvement has been central. MKWC integrates conservation with education and empowerment, reaching over 30,000 students annually through environmental programmes.

“Young people visit the conservancy, learn about biodiversity, and see that conservation is part of development,” Kariuki explained.

Local communities also participate in habitat restoration, forest protection, and awareness campaigns, linking healthy ecosystems to livelihoods. In regions where forests underpin water supply, agriculture, and climate resilience, this connection is particularly tangible.

Nationally, the Mountain Bongo has become a flagship species, a reminder that Kenya’s wildlife heritage extends beyond savannah icons to fragile forest ecosystems.

Every successful birth increases population numbers and reduces the risk of extinction. Without active breeding, experts warn, the Mountain Bongo could vanish within a generation.

Beyond population counts, the species plays a critical ecological role. Feeding on leaves, shoots, and bark, Mountain Bongos shape vegetation growth and disperse seeds, supporting forest regeneration. Protecting them, therefore, also safeguards key water catchments.

The Mawingu Sanctuary provides a natural yet secure environment where bongos can breed while maintaining behaviours necessary for survival in the wild.

International collaborations, including partnerships with Chester Zoo, the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), and the IUCN, have strengthened genetic management, monitoring, and long-term planning.

Such partnerships place Kenya in a global network of conservation science at a time of accelerating biodiversity loss. Globally, wildlife populations have declined by more than two-thirds over the past 50 years due to habitat loss, climate change, and overexploitation.

Against this backdrop, the Mountain Bongo’s recovery offers a rare success story.

“It shows that when conservation is science-based, adequately funded, and sustained, it can work, but it also shows how long the process takes,” Dr Aruho said.

Broader stakes

The stakes extend beyond one species. Forests sheltering the Mountain Bongo are among Kenya’s most important water catchments, regulating rainfall, reducing soil erosion, and supporting agriculture and hydropower.

As climate change intensifies droughts and extreme weather, protecting these ecosystems serves as a form of climate adaptation. Forest conservation also contributes to carbon sequestration, linking biodiversity protection to global climate goals.

The Mountain Bongo has become an ambassador for a broader environmental agenda—linking wildlife survival to water security, climate resilience, and sustainable development.

Despite optimism, conservationists remain cautious. Reintroduction carries risks: poaching, disease, habitat fragmentation, and human-wildlife conflict remain real threats. Long-term success requires continued funding, strong law enforcement, and community support.

Corporate and institutional partnerships, including support from Janus Continental Group, Dalbit Petroleum, Kenya Pipeline Company, and I&M Bank, have helped sustain the programme, alongside individual donors.

“Conservation requires policy consistency and national commitment. Species recovery does not happen on political timelines. For Kenya, the Mountain Bongo is proof that with patience, science, and collective will, nature can be given a second chance,” Kariuki said.