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An extremely rare and super cute species known as a ‘bongo’ has been born at Chester Zoo

Might be one of the most gorgeous creatures we've seen in a long while.

Danny Jones - 19th September 2024

One of the most critically endangered species on the planet has just been born at Chester Zoo and not only is it super rare and cute but it’s also got one of the most charming little names for an animal we’ve ever come across.

Its scientific name is Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci, but it’s more commonly and affectionately known as a ‘mountain bongo’, and while that name is undeniably amusing, its conservation status is much more serious as there are just 50 left in the wild.

Just the second bongo to have been born at the conservation charity in the last 15 years and with so few only found in one remote area of Kenya, every birth is ‘vitally important’ to the future of the species.

With that in mind, zoo conservationists are working on plans to translocate mountain bongo from zoos in Europe to Africa in a bid to prevent them from becoming completely extinct and that’s where experts like those at Chester Zoo come in. Say hello to Navari.

Our special new arrival is one of the world’s rarest mammals 🦌

Say hello to baby mountain bongo, Navari 🩷 How cute are her big ears!?

Only 50 mountain bongo now remain in a remote area of Kenya. That's why we're part of international efforts to translocate a number of these… pic.twitter.com/1HH5sLzC8m

— Chester Zoo (@chesterzoo) September 17, 2024

Quietly welcomed into the world on 31 May, the female calf might only be a dainty deer-looking creature right now but it is actually the world’s largest forest-dwelling antelope.

With adorable big ears and a striking patterned and camouflaging coat, the bongo is somewhere between an antelope and a red doe crossed with a bit of almost zebra-like striping.

When out in nature as normal, their horns are also used by males for sparing over females and also have to walk with their heads tilted back when moving through forests so they don’t get stuck in branches. They also used these strong horns to uproot plants as well as a long, flexible tongue to reach for food.

Given that there are so few of Navari and her kind left on the planet, few will have ever seen anything like her (ourselves included), but she is already key to the future of her species’ survival.

Born to parents Nolliag and Moti after a nine-and-a-half-month-long pregnancy, the “precious” young female is already growing fast but like most calves is “very shy and elusive”, according to Chester Zoo’s General Manager of Mammals, Dr Nick Davis.

He goes on to explain that most animals and newborns tend to naturally look to take cover to protect themselves; in this particular bongo’s case, their incredibly large ears don’t just look almost out of proportion with their bodies but are so highly sensitive that they keep them constantly on alert to help them sense and escape ambush predators.

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Nick went on to say: “We’ve learned so much about their biology and behaviours from important births like this one, as well as the daily care we’ve been able to provide to them in zoos. Until recently, they remained poorly studied across their native range but this is thankfully starting to change.”

“We’re now at the forefront of bongo conservation and we’ve already been involved in a number of breakthrough discoveries, such as finding them living in Uganda for the first time. This has laid a foundation for us to integrate conservation efforts by zoos with those in the wild – offering better hope for the future survival of these incredible animals.

The mountain bongo is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and faces serious threats of extinction due to habitat loss, the agriculture industry and hunting for their meat, horns and hides.

Director of Plants and Animals, Mike Jordan, added: “Working alongside the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Service, as well as academics in the UK and the zoo community across Europe, plans are now in motion to translocate a number of these wonderful animals from zoos in Europe to Africa.

“We hope they’ll go on to bolster the wild population and help these stunning animals to stage a recovery.” As you can see, the UK’s best zoo and wildlife conservation park continues to do crucial work in protecting rare species like the bongo – and you can be part of those efforts too.

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Featured Images — Chester Zoo (supplied)