Disney is providing three African Bongo’s from their Animal Kingdom theme park for a breeding program to help restore the fleeting numbers of wild Bongo’s found in Africa. Currently there are less than 100 bongos living in the wild and the number is shrinking due to poaching, predators and habitat destruction.
The Bongo is a chestnut brown member of the antelope family with vertical white strips on their bodies. They live in small groups and are the largest African forest antelopes. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to a few of these beautiful animals. You should look for them when riding the Kilimanjaro Safaris, where you might spot a couple of them hiding in the forest near the entrance to Harambe Wildlife Reserve.
Disney is currently working with Kenya Wildlife organizations, the Kenya Wildlife Service, the African Wildlife Foundation, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, the United Nations and many other national and international organizations to create a breeding program in the Mount Kenya National Park.
The American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Species Survival Plan identified 15 bongos from North American institutions, including 3 from Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and one two-year-old female from neighboring Busch Gardens to form the base breeding population for this new breeding program. Experts plan on releasing offspring from this base group into the wild with hopes of increasing the dwindling population of this wonderful animal.
“Hopefully, with our help, the animals will be seen again where they’ve been gone for a number of years.” said Sharon Joseph, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Curator of Mammals.
