Woburn, United Kingdom - October 28, 2024

[Note: Royalty free music]

Woburn Safari Park has jubilantly announced the birth of a male eastern mountain bongo calf, a monumental event for a species teetering on the brink of extinction. This thrilling arrival, celebrated on October 16, marks the first bongo calf born at the park in over 10 years, highlighting a significant achievement in global conservation efforts.

With fewer than 100 eastern mountain bongos remaining in the wild, the birth of this calf is critical for the species’ future. First-time mother Othaya, who herself is a rare set of twins, welcomed her healthy baby after a long labor, a moment hailed as both a success for the park and the broader captive breeding program.

Proud father Pesaka, affectionately known as Sonny, joined the bongo herd last November as part of a European endangered species management initiative aimed at enhancing genetic diversity.

Tom Robson, Head of Reserves, expressed his excitement, stating, “Both Mum and calf are doing really well.” The pair is currently bonding indoors, while the calf, with his charmingly large ears and timid demeanor, is gradually exploring his surroundings.

The birth signifies hope not just for Othaya and her calf but for the critically endangered eastern mountain bongo, whose populations have suffered due to poaching and habitat loss. This new addition to the herd may eventually contribute to future breeding groups, furthering the efforts to protect this remarkable species.