Stripes in the shadows: protecting the elusive mountain bongo
Discover how Chester Zoo is working to protect a critically endangered species, hidden deep in Africa’s forests.
Hidden deep in the forests of Central and East Africa lives one of the world’s most elusive and eye-catching antelopes – the bongo.
With their rich chestnut coats and striking white stripes, these shy animals are a true symbol of the wild. But they’re in serious danger.
The mountain bongo, found only in Kenya, is now critically endangered, with fewer than 50 individuals left in the wild. The lowland bongo, which roams the Congo Basin forests, is also under pressure, with fewer than 30,000 remaining and none in zoos. Both face growing threats from habitat loss and illegal hunting.
A global effort, led from Chester
We’re playing a leading role in a worldwide conservation mission to protect both mountain and lowland bongos. From our base at Chester Zoo, our teams are working with partners across Africa and the UK to protect forests, gather vital data, and develop cutting-edge technologies that will help save these amazing animals.
Eyes in the forest
In 2022, we launched a major project to understand and protect bongo habitats in Kenya and Uganda. As part of this, we carried out the first-ever camera trap survey in Uganda’s Mt Elgon National Park, in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. These camera traps help us better understand how bongos move, feed, and survive in the wild – knowledge that’s crucial to protecting them.
A world-first in conservation technology
Together with Conservation AI at Liverpool John Moores University, we’ve helped create a groundbreaking AI-powered alert system – the first of its kind in the world. This technology can detect bongos in real-time and track their movements, helping conservationists monitor the health, behaviour, and safety of animals that have been released from human care back into the wild.
Back to the wild
The bongos we look after at Chester Zoo (currently not on show) are part of an international breeding programme working to safeguard the species. We’re also coordinating efforts to move European zoo-born mountain bongos to Kenya’s Mawingu Bongo Sanctuary, where they can strengthen the wild population and boost genetic diversity – a vital step for the species’ long-term survival.
Hope for the future
With collaborative action, habitat protection, and the latest science and technology, we can give the bongo a fighting chance. Every visit to Chester Zoo helps support this work – and brings us one step closer to securing a future for these remarkable animals.