On Sunday February 23rd, 17 mountain bongos were safely repatriated from Palm Beach County, Florida, to a specially designed sanctuary on the northeastern slopes of Mt. Kenya.

This momentous event marked a significant milestone in Kenya’s ongoing efforts to recover one of its most iconic and critically endangered species.

The successful repatriation of the mountain bongos, achieved through multistakeholder partnerships and collaborative expertise, reflects Lewa’s unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation.

The repatriated bongos were donated to the government of Kenya by the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation (RSCF) in Florida, USA, following decades of dedicated research and breeding since 1991.

The complex logistics

But do you know the complex logistics that had to be implemented for the bongos to be translocated to Kenya?

The complex logistics of this translocation were made possible through close cooperation between RSCF, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Tusk, DHL, and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

In consultation with the project team, RSCF carefully selected 17 bongos comprising 12 females and five males from its large breeding herds.

To prepare them for travel, they were segregated for pre-shipment testing and preparation, as per KWS protocols, in a specially designed corral-chute system.

They were vaccinated for pathogens and given a pioneering, recombinant-DNA vaccine to help protect against tickborne disease. The vaccine was developed specifically for the bongo project by the Infectious Diseases Laboratory (IDL) at the University of Georgia, USA in collaboration with Kenya’s International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).

On February 22nd, all 17 animals were successfully crated and given a long-acting sedative to ease their 30-hour journey.

The animals left Palm Beach International Airport on February 23rd in a MountainBongo-branded DHL Boeing 767 that carried the antelopes 7146 nautical miles to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya.

The bongos were transported in custom-built crates, alongside six tons of pelleted feed. Three US animal-care experts, including a wildlife veterinarian, accompanied the animals during their journey.

Upon their arrival, the Kenya Wildlife Service transported the animals 250 kilometers by road to the new sanctuary.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy played a pivotal role in the construction of the 20-acre mountain bongo sanctuary, in partnership with the Meru Bongo and Rhino Conservation Trust (MBRCT) and Kenya Forest Service.

This sanctuary is part of Kenya’s first-ever conservation public-private, community partnership and stands as a cornerstone of Kenya’s National Bongo Action and Recovery Plan. It provides a secure home and breeding ground for the species, with the aim of re-establishing sustainable populations across the Mount Kenya ecosystem and beyond.

Mike Watson, CEO of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, stated: “Bringing the mountain bongos back to Kenya is
a great moment in the restoration of the country’s natural heritage. For decades, these animals have
been largely absent from the very forests where they belong, and this project will be crucial in reversing
that loss. Seeing them set foot on Kenyan soil again is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when
organizations work together.”

In addition, Lewa Board Member, Prof. Amb. Judi Wakhungu EGH, reflected on the historical and conservation significance of this achievement: “The return of the Bongos and the establishment of the
Mountain Bongo Sanctuary is a testament to Kenya’s distinguished wildlife conservation tradition. As we
celebrate the return of the Bongos, we acknowledge the international partnerships that have preserved
this endangered species. Their foremothers and fathers left Kenya in the 1970s. It is remarkable that the
20th generation offsprings have returned to their original home and natural habitat where they belong.
This is historic and attests to the conservationists’ expertise and dedication.”

Meru Bongo & Rhino Conservation Trust,(MBRCT ) chairman, John kinoti stated that “we are very grateful
to all our partners ,who ensured the success of this project and we are all happy working towards reversing the extinction of this endangered species. This area has a very favorable climate for the
breeding of the Bongos,the return of the mountain bongos to their native landscape is not only a victory
for conservation but also for local communities. The project has created employment opportunities and
promises continued investment in community initiatives around education, healthcare, and livelihoods.”

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy remains steadfast in its mission to protect and restore endangered species,
not only within the conservancy’s boundaries but across Kenya’s protected areas and vital ecosystems.
Through strategic partnerships and landscape-level conservation efforts, Lewa is committed to
safeguarding Kenya’s rich biodiversity for future generations.

KEY FACTS:

• Less than 100 mountain bongos remain in the wild.
• The mountain bongo antelope is the world’s largest and most endangered forest antelope,
  endemic to Kenya’s high-mountain forests.
• The 2025 bongo repatriation marks approximately 20 bongo generations since their original
  export to the U.S. and Europe during the early 1970s.
• Bongos have been bred and managed for species recovery by the Rare Species Conservatory
  Foundation (RSCF) in Florida, USA since 1991. RSCF partnered with the United Nations to
  spearhead the first bongo repatriation to Kenya in 2004. All of the animals were donated by RSCF
  to the Kenyan government. The mountain bongos were segregated for pre-shipment testing and
  preparation, as per Kenya Wildlife Service protocols, in a specially designed corral-chute system.
• Principal project partners are members of the Meru Bongo and Rhino Conservation Trust: Kenya
  Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service, Meru County Government, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy,
  Kamulu and Ntimaka Community Forest Associations and the Rare Species Conservatory
  Foundation. Other project partners include Tusk and DHL.