Cape May County - Bongo Project: Background

Bongo "Mara" is Kenya Bound.

Latest Updates

12/7/04:
A second female calf was born in August.

Mara and company adapted quickly to their new surroundings and all appear well adjusted.

The group currently live in two 10-acre enclosures while fence construction continues on the 100-acre preserve comprised of "untouched" Mount Kenya Forest.

The fence is being constructed completely by-hand so machinery does not damage the landscape.

Once the fence is completed, Mara's herd will join the herd established at the Conservancy on this newly protected preserve.

2/12/04:
Mara and company departed from Florida on Jan. 29.

They arrived at the Mt. Kenya World Heritage Site on Jan. 31 Africa time.

The first calf was born at the site on Feb. 5.

11/17/03:
Mara and seventeen other Mountain Bongo Antelopes are presently at White Oak Conservation Center in Northern Florida in official pre-shipment quarantine.

Crate construction will soon begin in preparation for the transportation of the bongos to Mount Kenya in mid-January, 2004.

Fence construction is underway at Mt. Kenya(pictures at left).

The Cape May County Park & Zoo is proud to be participating in the Mountain Bongo Repatriation Project under the guidance of the Bongo Species Survival Plan and the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation. The Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders passed Resolution No. 670-03 on August 12, 2003 approving the donation of Mara, a Mountain Bongo Antelope, to the Mt. Kenya World Heritage Site. The basic intent of this project is to establish a captive breeding population on a large natural protected preserve. The long term goal is to re-establish a wild population of Mountain Bongo Antelope on Mt. Kenya by releasing future generations. “This has great backing from the international conservation programs,” says Cape May County Zoo Director and Veterinarian Dr. Hubert Paluch. While there have been concerns voiced about Mara's safety, Dr. Paluch explains “They will be kept in a preserve. The third or fourth or fifth generation will be released into the wild.”

Fence Construction Fall 2003

Program Summary:

"The mountain bongo (Boocercus eurycerus isaaci) is a flagship species for one of the world’s richest forest ecosystems, adjacent to the highest priority plant-diversity hotspot, the Eastern Arc Mountains of Kenya. Due to severe poaching, habitat destruction and lion predation the wild stocks of this species are believed to be close to extinction in their original habitats. In Mt. Kenya World Heritage Site the bongo antelope has not been seen for over 9 years. This initiative seeks to return the mountain bongo to its country of origin by repatriating individuals from the captive population kept in American zoological institutions. The Mountain Bongo project aims to establish an in situ captive breeding program, in a natural setting in Mt. Kenya WHS, as the first phase of several conservation steps required to reintroduce the mountain bongos to the wild. The project will also help build the capacity of national conservation partners in captive breeding and reintroduction programs. The media attention this project is likely to attract will strengthen public awareness on WHS importance and will be key to current resources mobilization efforts to expand and enhance conservation and community livelihood initiatives in and around Mt. Kenya World Heritage Site. The Repatriation of the Mountain Bongo Antelope project is a strategic, targeted and timely initiative that brings together UN organizations, the Kenyan Government, and local, national and international non-government organizations."

-United Nations Development Program