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 eurycerusisaaci, 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
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.
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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.
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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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Navira pictured with Dad. Standing around 1.1 to 1.4m tall at the shoulder, an adult male bongo can weigh over 300kgs Credit: Chester Zoo (supplied)
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.
Salford Red Devils granted another adjournment over unpaid debts
Danny Jones
Salford Red Devils have been given one more adjournment and yet another stay of execution, being given another two weeks to find the money to cover their unpaid debts.
The local rugby league side, which has been wrapped in all manner of struggles both on and off-pitch over the past year or so, reportedly needs to pay around £700,000 to HMRC alone and still owes roughly £5 million in total to various creditors.
To no surprise, regular matchgoers, neutrals and even rivals alike have expressed their continued disappointment with the club, mainly at the lack of transparency and clarity from the organisation throughout this long, drawn-out process.
This is coming from a wire fan but no club deserves to be left in the dark even longer than they already have done it’s nothing but a disgrace to the sport of rugby those owners and the court should be ashamed of themselves.
Updating fans on social media, this is all the information they have communicated at this time: “Salford Red Devils can confirm that HMRC have granted the club a two-week adjournment, providing additional time in which to secure the necessary funds.
“We would like to reassure supporters that we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a positive resolution. Further updates will be shared as soon as possible.”
It’s worth noting that the current owners have reiterated that they inheited around £3m in existing debt before they took over the club, but assurances over their own investments have still come to nothing; meanwhile, with many still waiting on wages, players and staff alike have now left.
Having been propped up by loan players and emergency loans, the team is now closer to a skeleton crew than it is an outfit capable of competing in the premier division.
Either way, the outrage remains and is only growing stronger. One user wrote on X: “A good approach by them if they was legit would be to engage and bring in The 1873 to bridge the communication black hole (they created).
“The problem with that is if they did it would expose them for what they are… Extortionists using the club as a vehicle.”
More alarm bells were raised recently when assistant coach and Krisnan Inu – who was also director of the company set up to take over the business – withdrew himself from a key position behind the scenes.
Speaking of The 1873, the outspoken supporters trust took no time at all in issuing a response of their own, adding: “The judge presiding over today’s case has adjourned by 14 days. This adjournment has dragged the uncertainty on even longer.
“Every delay makes planning for 2026 harder and keeps the club stuck in limbo when it desperately needs clarity and direction.
“The fans, the players and the future all deserve better — The 1873.”
You can see the rest of their statement in full down below, but for now, what do you make of this seemingly neverending saga, Salfordians?
‘Christmas chaos’ on the cards as Manchester tram drivers vote on staging strike action next month
Emily Sergeant
There could be major disruption to festive travel in Greater Manchester next month, as hundreds of tram drivers are currently voting on whether to strike.
Almost 320 tram drivers are being balloted over working conditions and fears around fatigue.
The drivers – who are members of the union, Unite – all work for KeolisAmey Metrolink Limited at the Warwick Road South and Queens Road depots in Manchester – and they operate trams on all routes in Greater Manchester.
As it stands, the drivers’ shift patterns currently mean they have to work 450 hours over a 12-week period, which results in some having to work 50 hours on, followed by just two days off, then back into another 50-hour work pattern.
Drivers also have fewer rest days compared to all other operational departments, and this is said to be causing safety concerns around fatigue.
‘Christmas chaos’ is on the cards as Manchester tram drivers are currently voting on staging strike action next month / Credit: TfGM
Drivers say they concerned about operating heavy vehicles while exhausted and unable to have proper breaks, but after raising the issue with management, Unite has been told there is ‘no funding available’ to support any ‘meaningful’ improvements to working patterns.
Instead, management has asked drivers to start work earlier – which Unite says is only ‘adding insult to injury’.
The ballot is set to close on 11 November, and if drivers vote in favour of industrial action, strikes could then begin in late November, causing widespread cancellations and delays throughout the region during the busy festive shopping period – particularly coinciding with Manchester’s world-famous Christmas Markets, known for attracting millions of visitors to the city each year.
“Any strike action will cause a great deal of disruption but it is entirely the fault of Metrolink, which is not taking the issue of driver fatigue seriously,” commented Unite Regional Officer, Colin Hayden.
Danny Jones -
19th September 2024 
