Louisville Zoo Keeper Jessie Grizzle with the 3-day-year-old female baby bongo calf. Photo by Kara Bussabarger / The Louisville Zoo

Endangered baby bongo born
at the Louisville Zoo

An endangered female baby bongo was born at the Louisville Zoo Friday afternoon, August 14.

Weighing in at close to 50 pounds, she and mother Kaya are doing well.

“We are elated about this birth,” said Louisville Zoo Assistant Mammal Curator Candy McMahan. “The calf is spunky and curious—very independent; and Kaya is a good mother—very nurturing and attentive.”

Bongos, which are native to the mountain forests of Africa, are largest of the forest antelopes and considered by many to be the most beautiful with their spiraled horns. They are elusive and seldom seen in the wild, preferring to live in the densest, most remote jungle areas. In addition to the deep chestnut color of their coats, bongos have bright white stripes on their sides to help camouflage them from their enemies.

This calf’s birth was a planned part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). These plans work to improve the genetic diversity of managed animal populations. Through the efforts of zoos in North America, a reintroduction of bongos to the population in Kenya is being developed. (For more information on SSPs, visit http://www.aza.org/ConScience/ConScienceSSPFact/.)

There are only about 500 bongos in zoos worldwide.

There have been 10 bongo births at the Louisville Zoo over the years. Currently, there are five bongos at the Zoo—four females and one male.

The calf, yet to be named by staff, is currently being introduced to the rest of the herd. She will be on exhibit daily depending on weather and other circumstances.