Bongo Repatriation Project

Bongo Repatriation Project. . , The Cape May County Zoo is proud to be part of the mountain bongo repatriation project., 1967 - The Mount Kenya Game Ranch (MKGR) was founded by William Holden, Julian McKeand and Don and Iris Hunt., 1970 - With the bongo population decreasing the (MKGR) and Kenya government captured a nucleus breeding group of bongo. From 1970 to 1980, this group was sent to various zoos in the United States., 1982 - The William Holden Wildlife Foundation is founded by Stephanie Powers and Don and Iris Hunt. With a small population of bongo living at the ranch, they begin to educate Kenyans about the need to preserve the mountain bongo., 1994 - The remains of what is thought to be the last known wild bongo on Mount Kenya are discovered., 1995 - The U.S. population of bongo had been successfully breeding with numbers increasing into the hundreds., 1996 - Directors Dr Estes and Dr Reillo of the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation (RSCF) develop the concept of repatriation of bongo to Kenya., January 28, 2004 - The project becomes a reality. When an Air Transport International DC-8 freighter loaded with 18 crated bongo ages 13 months to 4 years old (4 males and 14 females) including an expecting female began their 2 day trip from the White Oak Conservation Center in Florida, where they spent 3 months in quarantine., January 29th at 8 pm they arrive in Nairobi and transported by truck to the Mount Kenya Game Ranch., January 30th in the early morning hours all the crates were lined up for a simultaneous release. They were released into a special enclosure separated from the 18 African bongos that were already on site., February 5th 2004 - The first baby to the American herd is born. They named her Miss Kenya. Also Mount Kenya Game Ranch changes its name to Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy., August 2004 - A second calf is born she is named "Tumani" which means "Hope"., December 2004 - Officials report that "Miss Kenya" and "Tumani" and the rest of the American herd have adjusted well to their new natural environment., February 2005 - Heavy rains and marauding elephants caused a delay in the completion of the fence surrounding the 100 acre natural forest that both herds are to be released in., April 2006 - Officials announce that the herds have been mixed together and are doing well. There have been 4 more calves born and several more females are pregnant., The first and second generation of bongo born will remain in the preserve. Plans are for the third, fourth or fifth generation to be released into the wild. When they are released they will be fitted with transponders and will be monitored by officials., There are future plans to send more bongo to Kenya to enhance the genetic diversity of the herd., For additional updates go to: www.animalorphanagekenya.com or type in bongo repatriation.