Under the partnership, the conservancy has involved 3,000 community members in planting more than 35,000 indigenous tree species, with plans to plant another 5,000 trees this year. The conservancy is working with these communities to restore degraded areas within Mount Kenya’s forests through a reforestation programme.
It also requires an appropriate habitat, foliage and enough space to exhibit normal wild animal behaviour.Īccording to wildlife experts in Kenya, the long-term success of the release and eventual survival of the animals in the wild largely depends on local communities’ support in surrounding areas, since most of the threats that caused the population decline were human-driven. Weaning the animals from human dependence requires technical skills, patience and commitment to allow the animals to adapt independently. The opening of the sanctuary is a critical step to help achieve. Tourism and wildlife minister, Najib Balala, said: “The mountain bongo is one of Kenya’s most iconic animals, is critically endangered and can only be found in Kenya. It is estimated that by 2025, the sanctuary will have 50 to 70 fully rewilded mountain bongos. The government’s long-term vision is to achieve a population of 750 in Kenya by 2050.Įvery year, 10 mountain bongos will be released into the sanctuary in groups of five every six months. The pristine sanctuary consists of a natural forest that provides an extensive range to continue releasing the mountain bongos in preparation for their survival in the wild. It marks the single most significant step towards the survival of the mountain bongo in history.” “This is the culmination of dedicated conservation work that has spanned almost two decades. We must ensure that the animals released can thrive and survive in the sanctuary and, eventually, the wild. The subspecies once roamed in large numbers but has suffered unprecedented population decline since the 1950s due to poaching, the wildlife trade, predation and disease, in particular, a rinderpest outbreak in the 1980s.ĭr Robert Aruho, head of veterinary services at MKWC, said: “The real work now begins. The five animals released on Wednesday into the 314-hectare (776-acre) Mawingu mountain bongo sanctuary are descendants of the US herd. Photograph: Baz Ratner/ReutersĮighteen mountain bongos (four male and 14 female) were repatriated from 14 zoos across the US to MKWC in Nanyuki, near Mount Kenya. Two out of the five critically endangered mountain bongos are released into the Mawingu sanctuary near Nanyuki, Kenya, 9 March 2022.
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