Donations support Bongo Conservation
Supporting Bongo monitoring at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy
We’re home to two beautiful stripy antelope known as Eastern bongo. They naturally live in the mountainous forests surrounding Mount Kenya, so they can sometimes be referred to as ‘Mountain Bongo’. Sadly, there are fewer than 100 individuals left in the wild due to poaching for meat and deforestation which causes a lost and fragmented habitat. We feel so fortunate to care for two of these amazing, critically endangered animals at our zoo.
At the foot of Mount Kenya there is an ambitious project to breed and release these animals back into the wild, reinforcing wild populations and reintroducing them to their former ranges. The Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy is located next to the scenic Mount Kenya Forest ecosystem, a region renowned for its significant beauty and biodiversity.
In 2023 our conservation officer Jack, was lucky enough to visit Kenya and assist with monitoring the bongo in their large, forested enclosures. Following the trip, the conservancy became one of several conservation partners that we support – and we aim help fundraise for the bongo rewilding program and raise awareness of their mission.
Last year, with help from YOU, our very generous guests, we raised an impressive £1157 for the conservancy which has enabled the purchase of 12 rugged smartphones. These will be distributed to the security patrol and bongo monitoring teams.
“Thanks to you, we have acquired six Armor 21 and six Armor 24 devices, both chosen for their durability and performance in challenging field conditions.
Dorice Andetse from MKWC
These smartphones will be distributed among our security patrol and Bongo monitoring teams. We’re currently in the process of installing the EarthRanger app
and applying screen protectors, after which the devices will be deployed. The Armor 21 is lightweight, fast-charging, and capable of capturing high-quality images and videos even at night.
The Armor 24, on the other hand, is a game-changer for our field researchers—it offers exceptional battery life, extensive storage capacity, and enhanced night vision, making it ideal for extended missions in remote areas.
These tools are more than just gadgets. They will enable real-time documentation of wildlife sightings, support coordinated emergency responses, and help our teams stay connected—even in areas with limited or no signal.
Your belief in our mission directly enhances the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of our conservation work. We look forward to sharing more updates on the impact of this investment.
Thank you for investing not just in technology, but in the people and ecosystems it helps protect.”
We are so pleased to support this project, which has already seen 20 bongo released from breeding enclosures into the huge 776-acre Mawingu Bongo Sanctuary. We hope that the smartphones help this amazing team to monitor the bongo – and most importantly, keep them safe from danger.