Four mountain bongos, a critically endangered antelope species, have arrived in Kenya after being transported from zoos across Europe.
The male bongos were the first to ever be transferred from European zoos to Kenya as part of a rewilding and repatriation initiative jointly coordinated with Chester Zoo.
They arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya on Tuesday night and were welcomed by Kenya's foreign and tourism ministers, as well as other officials.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said the bongos arrived aboard a KLM cargo flight from the Czech Republic, where they had been under the care of Safari Park Dvůr Králové.
The following morning, the animals were welcomed at Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, a private wildlife reserve in central Kenya.
Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy is home to more than 100 bongos. Its new residents will "play an important role in enhancing genetic diversity and supporting long-term conservation efforts", KWS said.
KWS director-general Erustus Kanga described the arrival of the bongos as a "moment of hope, responsibility, and renewed commitment to securing the future of one of the world's rarest large mammals".
Helena Hubáčková, Safari Park Dvůr Králové
Before being sent to Kenya by Safari Park Dvůr Králové, the bongos were living at Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic, National Zoo Bojnice in Slovakia, Tierpark Berlin and the Frankfurt Zoological Garden in Germany, and Givskud Zoo in Denmark.
At Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, the animals will undergo "undergo acclimatisation and detailed monitoring before being gradually integrated into the reserve’s breeding programme", the Prague Zoo said.
Robert Aruho, director of the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, said: “These males are a key component of our reintroduction programme.
"Having reached the milestone of 100 eastern bongos born at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, we are now focused on long-term growth in line with the national target of at least 750 bongos by 2050."
He added: "Acquiring these genetically valuable males will strengthen our breeding programme’s structure, accelerate population growth and play a vital role in building a resilient population that can support the species’ reintroduction and its long-term survival in Kenyan forests."
Nick Davis, mammals general manager at Chester Zoo, said: "The mountain bongo is one of Africa's rarest mammals and perilously close to extinction.
"Collaborations like this are absolutely essential if we are to prevent this magnificent species disappearing altogether."
