Kenya Welcomes Four Rare Mountain Bongos

Kenya has celebrated the arrival of four rare Mountain Bongos to their native land, marking a pivotal moment in conservation efforts to save one of the planet’s most endangered large mammals.
The four male bongos touched down on Tuesday 28th April 2026 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport aboard a KLM cargo flight from the Czech Republic, where they had been cared for by Zoo Dvůr Králové.
The welcoming party included Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, Kenya Wildlife Service Director General Erustus Kanga, Czech Republic Ambassador Nicol Adamcova, representatives from the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya Airports Authority, and KLM.
The four animals have now been relocated to the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, where they are acclimating under expert supervision.
With this addition, the conservancy now houses 102 bongos, and patron Humphrey Kariuki noted that these four males will be instrumental in diversifying the species’ genetic makeup.
Cabinet Secretary Miano characterized the introduction of these genetically distinct bongos as an essential move toward enhancing breeding capabilities, while Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi highlighted the achievement as evidence of successful collaboration between policy, scientific research, and international cooperation.
For the Kenya Wildlife Service, this event holds profound importance.
Director Kanga described it as “a moment of hope, responsibility, and renewed commitment” to preserving the Mountain Bongo’s future.
Ambassador Adamcova emphasized that the relocation demonstrates the enduring conservation partnership between the Czech Republic and Kenya and a mutual commitment to safeguarding endangered wildlife.
The return of these four bongos culminates years of coordinated work under Kenya’s National Recovery and Action Plan for the Mountain Bongo, advancing the nation’s objective of eventually reintroducing the species to its wild natural habitat.