KENYAWILDLIFESERVICE

Conservation of Eastern Bongo: Kenya’s Experience

Dr. Charles Musyoki, PhD, OGW

Senior Scientist

Department of Species Conservation Programs

The broader context of mountain bongo conservation

Endemic to Kenya’s endangered highland forest

Especially susceptible to human encroachment

Symbolic of health of endangered forest ecosystem

Forest ecosystem is a vital water tower, crucial to wellbeing of Kenyan people

Possibly sub-Saharan Africa’s most endangered large mammal

Healthy populations exist in Europe and North America totaling in excess of 500 animals

Bongo conservation history Aberdare National Park established

in 1950 Bongo exported to Europe & North

America in the 70’s & 80’s where captive populations flourished

Wild populations crashed in latter part of 20th century

In early part of 21st century, bongo considered effectively extinct in wild

In 2004,18 bongo repatriated to captive Kenyan herd

Four isolated populations since rediscovered totaling ~100 animals

2008 classified as critically endangered ●●●●●●

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

●●

●●●

Trends in numbers and Distribution (Bongo)

Aberdare Mount Kenya Eburru Mau Londiani Cherangani

1975 2010 Wild Captive

500 50 6-7 68 9 9 Locally Extinct Locally Extinct

Current bongo range in Kenya

Fragmentation of bongo populations

Each area of bongo habitat is effectively an island

60% of mammalian extinctions have occurred in island populations

Isolation & small population size increases extinction risk Loss of GD

Reduced fitness, survivorship etc Susceptibility to catastrophes Demographic stochasticity

Chance fluctuations in births, deaths, sex ratios

Captive bongo in Kenya The Mount Kenya Game Ranch Ltd. was established in 1967 The purpose of the Game Ranch was to create a sanctuary for rare

and endangered species and educate the public about conservation The rare Mountain Bongo was chosen as its logo and work towards

its protection and insurance of survival of the species was amongst others commenced immediately.

In 2004, the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy was founded to assist with the wildlife Programs of the Mount Kenya Game Ranch.

Over 300,000 Kenyan students have attended wildlife education programs of the Conservancy and the Foundation free of charge.

Bongo breeding Captive breeding of bongo at the MKWC/MKGR dates back 40yrs. The founder herd was 10 individuals (4:6), 5 (2:3) bred successfully as captured in

the international studbook. In January 2004, 13 American institutions donated 18 (4:14) bongos “US bongo”

(17 adults and 1 sub adult female.) to supplement a resident herd of 18 (8:10) (adults 12, sub adults 2 and young 4) totalling 36 (12:24). (Adults are 2yrs and above, sub adults 1 to 2 yrs, young are below one year).

A total of 10 from the original US herd managed to breed. First calving comes at averagely 3yrs which means the start breeding at about 2yrs.

They calve after about 9 months. Presently, there are a total of 68 (31:37) bongos in the facility. Adults 49(20:29)

sub adults 8 (4:4) and 11 (7:4) young. Of these, a total of 24 have US herd lineage.

Population growth

POPULATION GROWTH FROM 2004

YEAR MALES FEMALES TOTAL

2004 12 24 36

2006 19 23 42

2008 22 32 54

2009 27 34 61

2010 31 37 68

THE US HERD ADAPTATION On arrival, the US herd was quarantined for about one year with females sorted

into two herds each with one male with breeding recommendation from the PM2000 program.

The first two weeks, 4 bongos were lost to what was later discovered to have been a strain of Theileria called Taurotrogi. Several animals followed in the subsequent weeks. Up to eight animals may have succumbed to the theileria. A total of 13 have since died. Some due to intra-specific aggression/accidents, Euthanasia following reproductive system relapse and some due to e-coli.

Suppressed immune systems due the lengthy duration of non exposure to tick borne diseases

The surviving five animals and the offspring are believed to have developed resistance today.

CONDITIONING FOR RELEASE PROTOCOL

After weaning, animals are moved out to a 100 acre piece of wilderness area an extension of the mountain forest along Nanyuki River a typical bongo habitat within the breeding facility.

While in there, Human contact is kept at minimum and an encounter is made unpleasant. Commercial feed supplements are gradually withdrawn to encourage

dependence on natural browse. Due to the limited range in the facility, natural browse is foraged from the

nearby mount Kenya forest to supplement We however still supplement their food and mineral requirements depending

on availability of natural supply.

Conservation planning for bongo

National bongo conservation task forceNational stakeholders workshop

VisionGoalStrategic objectives Activities

THANK YOU