| Scientific
Name: Tragelaphus euryceros
Size: 1.25 metres at shoulder
Weight: 300kgs
IUCN Endangered Species?: Near
Threatened
Estimated Wild Population: Less
than 100 eastern mountain bongo. Perhaps 30000 western bongo
Distribution: Central African
Congo forests stretching to Abedare mountains of Kenya in the east
Description: This
large, stocky antelope lives in the tropical, Congo forests of central
Africa. There are two
distinct races, the western subspecies making up almost all of the
estimated remaining population. Numbers
of the eastern, mountain bongo are down to less that 200 although
reintroduction attempts have successfully increased the resident
population. A large cause
of their decline was due to the reintroduction of lions in their home
range in Kenya. Populations
are extremely difficult to estimate due to the impenetrable nature of
the environment in which they live but it is believed that the western
subspecies is in no immediate danger.
The bongo is often considered to be amongst the most beautiful of
all antelope. Both sexes
have long, thick horns and a chestnut coloured coat with white stripes.
Mature males develop a dark grey band across the shoulders.
They have extremely large ears to help them detect predators in
the thick jungle where eyesight cannot be so relied upon.
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