PREVIEW

One of the world’s rarest antelopes is returning to Paignton Zoo in Devon.


The magnificent bongo, arriving from Folly Farm in Wales, will join the zoo's resident pair, Bowie and Ada, as part of an international breeding programme to save this critically endangered species.


The transfer comes as experts warn that, without intervention, the eastern bongo could vanish from its native Kenya within two decades.


Liam Southern, Senior Keeper of Mammals at Paignton Zoo, commented: "With fewer than 100 eastern bongos remaining in the wild, every breeding opportunity is crucial. Although it’s been a while since we last bred bongos at Paignton Zoo, we have excellent facilities here, and early signs are very promising."



With their rich chestnut-coloured coat, brilliant white stripes, and impressive spiral horns, eastern bongos are among the most spectacular yet overlooked treasures at Paignton Zoo. These remarkable animals are larger than life – as one of the largest forest antelopes in the world, they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the zoo's more familiar species like lions and rhinos.


The move is part of a coordinated breeding programme overseen by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), which manages strategic pairings across accredited zoos to maintain genetic diversity in the captive population. Such programmes have become increasingly vital as wild populations of many species continue to decline.




As zoos increasingly serve as modern-day arks for endangered species, the pressure to succeed in such breeding efforts intensifies. For the eastern bongo, with its wild population restricted to a single region of Kenya, these carefully managed zoo populations could prove crucial in preventing the species' complete extinction.




Initial interactions between the animals through their enclosure fence have been encouraging, according to keepers. The success of such breeding programmes often hinges on careful matchmaking and patient integration of new animals into existing groups.


Liam continued: "When you say Paignton Zoo, people think about lions, rhinos, and orangutans. While all of those species are incredible, our bongos are equally as magnificent and their story is just as compelling. We encourage the public to take the time to visit them and see for themselves how impressive they truly are. Every ticket sold helps us continue our vital conservation work for endangered species like the eastern bongo."