Chester Zoo leads mission to return rare antelope
Experts from Chester Zoo are leading an international effort to return one of Africa’s rarest antelopes to Kenya, with four zoo-bred males set to be translocated in the coming weeks.
Fewer than 50 mountain bongo are thought to remain in the wild.
The animals, bred in European conservation zoos, will be moved to Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy to support breeding and long-term rewilding plans.
The transfer marks the first time mountain bongos have been moved from European zoos back to Kenya as part of a coordinated conservation programme.
The species, native to Kenya’s highland forests, has declined sharply due to habitat loss and poaching. Conservationists say the introduction of new males with strong genetics will help strengthen the population and support recovery efforts.
The programme has been coordinated over more than a decade by Chester Zoo alongside partners including the Kenya Wildlife Service and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.
Dr Nick Davis said: “This is a truly historic moment for mountain bongo conservation in Africa and for the European zoos that have worked tirelessly to safeguard the species.
“The mountain bongo is one of Africa’s rarest mammals and perilously close to extinction. Thankfully though, the species is thriving in conservation zoos across Europe, with a number of important births in recent years helping to build a healthy, genetically strong population.
“As a result, we have carefully selected four males to provide a vital lifeline and help boost numbers at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy. Collaborations like this are absolutely essential if we are to prevent this magnificent species disappearing altogether. They demonstrate how modern, science-led zoos play an important role in bringing species back from the brink, and the future of the mountain bongo may now be much brighter because of it.”
The animals are currently undergoing health checks and quarantine at Safari Park Dvůr Králové before being flown to Kenya, where they will be gradually introduced into the existing breeding programme.
Dr Robert Aruho said: “These males are a critical component of our rewilding programme. Having reached the milestone of 100 mountain bongos at Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, our focus now is on sustained growth, with a long-term national target of establishing at least 750 individuals by 2050. The introduction of these genetically valuable males will strengthen our breeding structure, accelerate population growth, and play an essential role in building a resilient bongo population capable of supporting rewilding and long-term recovery in Kenya’s forests.”
Technology is also being used to support conservation efforts. In 2024, Chester Zoo partnered with Kenya Wildlife Service and researchers from Liverpool John Moores University to develop an AI-powered detection system to monitor the animals in the wild.
Stuart Nixon said: “We’re at the forefront of bongo conservation and have been involved in breakthrough discoveries, such as finding the lowland subspecies living in Uganda for the first time. Our newly developed AI-powered cameras are also revolutionising how the species is monitored in the wild, helping us protect them more closely than ever before. Combined with reintroduction efforts like this one, this work will change the tide for mountain bongos.”
The project also involves international partners contributing to breeding, research and transport planning, with organisers describing it as a model for future species recovery programmes.
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