Gov’t Efforts To Save Endangered Mountain Bongo

The Kenya Forest Services (KFS) has pledged to maintain conservation efforts at the Mau-Eburru forest in order to protect the critically endangered Mountain Bongo at the water tower.

Sammy Langat, the Eburru Forest Manager, stated that the construction of the 43.3 km electric fence around the forest, combined with round-the-clock surveillance of the bongos, has ensured the safety of the endangered antelope species.

Langat stated that the Bongo surveillance team, which was introduced to the forest, has greatly improved the security of the known shy antelopes by using modern camera trappings that monitor and collect data on their movements.

The Forester stated that the Bongo population in the forest had increased to 10, adding that their numbers in the country average at 120 animals, which is less than the recommended critical endangered species threshold of 250 individuals.

Langat attributed the decline in Bongo populations at Eburru forest to habitat destruction caused by illegal logging and charcoal burning, poaching for bush meat, and rinderpest disease.

He did, however, credit the success of the key water tower restoration to collaboration with Eburru community members, government institutions such as the Kenya Wildlife Service, and support from various private partners.

“We have been able to achieve 90 per cent protection of wildlife at Eburru ecosystem which is quite commendable”, observed Langat.

Langat noted that, as a result of improved protection and conservation efforts, Eburru forest will be one of the habitats for Mountain Bongos that the government plans to repatriate from US breeding institutions in the future.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the Kenyan Mountain Bongo as a critically endangered species (IUCN).

Within the vast Mau forest complex, the Antelope subspecies can only be found in the Aberdares, Mt. Kenya, Cherangani Hills, and Eburru forest.

Langat was speaking at KenGen’s ‘Adopt a Forest Initiative’ on Friday, when 3,200 indigenous tree seedlings were planted in degraded areas of the Eburru forest.

Anthony Igecha, Chairman of the KenGen Foundation Trustee Board, stated that the tree planting exercise aims to conserve and protect the key water resource that feeds Lake Naivasha, Lake Elementaita, and Lake Nakuru, while also supporting government efforts to restore and achieve much needed forest cover.

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Morris Kanduka, Chairman of the Eburru Community Forest Association (ECOFA), stated that members of the public have become key managers in the conservation of the forest, and that they will continue to support government efforts in wildlife protection and water tower ecosystem revitalization.

Gov’t Efforts To Save Endangered Mountain Bongo

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