Nanyuki:The government has introduced the National Recovery and Action Plan for the Mountain Bongo 2026-2030, a strategic initiative designed to enhance the breeding, protection, and recovery of the critically endangered Mountain Bongo species.
According to Kenya News Agency, the plan was unveiled by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy. The initiative aims to increase Kenya’s Mountain Bongo population by 50 percent by 2030, with a long-term objective of establishing a self-sustaining population of 750 animals by 2075. Currently, approximately 100 of these rare antelopes reside at the conservancy.
Miano emphasized the ongoing threats to the Mountain Bongo, which is found exclusively in Kenya, and highlighted the need for consistent efforts from government agencies, conservation organizations, communities, and other stakeholders. The recovery of this species is seen as a broader effort to secure national assets such as mountain forests, which play crucial roles in water supply, carbon storage, and supporting agriculture and tourism.
The new action plan aims to unite stakeholders for its full implementation, while also generating employment and business opportunities in the tourism and conservation sectors. Miano stated that the plan aligns with the National Wildlife Strategy 2030 and supports the Kenya Wildlife Service Strategic Plan 2024-2028, as well as the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
Miano also noted that the first Mountain Bongo Action Plan had limited success, with only 28 of 129 planned activities fully implemented. She urged stakeholders to improve implementation discipline to achieve the new plan’s targets. The estimated cost for implementing the Mountain Bongo Recovery Plan is approximately Sh400 million.
Kenya Wildlife Service Director General Prof. Erastus Kanga reported that fewer than 65 Mountain Bongos are believed to remain in the wild, existing in isolated forest populations. KWS is focused on protecting these populations through genetic management, disease control, and habitat preparation, among other efforts.
Kanga also highlighted the importance of collaboration with partners, including county governments and local communities, to protect existing habitats and prepare future release sites. The involvement of local knowledge and community engagement is deemed essential for the lasting recovery of the species.
Additionally, Vivek Menon, Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Steering Committee, pledged support to enhance the Mountain Bongo’s status on the global Red List of threatened species and aid in recovery efforts.
This initiative represents a renewed commitment by the government and conservation partners to reverse the decline of the Mountain Bongo and ensure its survival in Kenya’s forests and protected areas.
