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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
bongo
antelope |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Artiodactyla |
| FAMILY: |
Bovidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Tragelaphus
(antelope) eurycerus (eurus -
broad, widespread; keras - the horn of a
animal) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Large
colorful antelope with large ears, bright chestnut
to dark brown with vivid white-yellow markings and
stripes; spiral-horned antelope |
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| SIZE: |
110-130
cm (44-54 in) |
| MALE |
Males
slightly larger than females |
|
| WEIGHT: |
|
| MALE |
240-405 kg (528-891 lbs) |
| FEMALE |
210-253
kg (462-557 lbs) |
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| DIET: |
Browsers;
eat leaves, flowers, twigs, thistles, garden produce
and cereals |
|
| GESTATION: |
Approximately
285 days (9.5 months) |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
24-27
months |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Up
to 19 years observed in zoos; unknown in the natural
environment |
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| HABITAT: |
Lowland
and montane (mountain) forests |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
No
data |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Near
threatened |
| CITES |
Appendix
III |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
| AZA |
SSP-Participant |
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| 1. |
Bongos
are the largest forest antelope. |
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| 2. |
Native
people believe if they eat or touch bongo they will
have spasms similar to epileptic seizures. Because
of this superstition, bongos have been relatively
unharmed in their native ranges. |
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| 3. |
Population
counts are sketchy as these are very secretive animals.
Even researchers who study these antelope often
do not see them. Much of what is known about them
comes from captive animals and studies at salt licks
on the edge of forests. |
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| 4. |
They
have been known to eat burned wood after lightning
storms. This behavior is believed to be a means
of getting salt or minerals. |
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| 5. |
Bongos
are great high jumpers but prefer to go under or
around obstacles. |
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| 6. |
Bongos
use their prehensile tongue to grasp the vegetation
they feed on. |
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| 7. |
In
order to swiftly maneuver through the dense forest
vegetation, bongos tilt their chin up, causing their
horns to lie flat against their back. They take
this position so frequently older bongos often have
bald spots on their back from the tips of their
horns rubbing away the fur. |
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The
ecological importance of bongos is not fully understood.
Since they are so secretive, scientists often
find it difficult to gather data on them. As browsers
they are important to the habitats they live in
by keeping vegetation from becoming overgrown.
They also serve as prey items for leopards and
sometimes hyenas. Since these animals are so dependent
on dense vegetation, habitat destruction is their
greatest threat.
Busch
Gardens continues support of the Bongo Antelope
Field Study directed by Paul Elkan in the Nouabale-Ndoki
National Park in Africa's northern Congo. Nouabale-Ndoki,
one of the least disturbed forests remaining in
tropical Africa, offers a wealth of research opportunities
on dozens of species. Among the most critical
of those species is the bongo, which was only
discovered by modern biologists in the 1950s.
In the 40 years since this fascinating species'
discovery, researchers have raced against time
collecting data to better understand its biology
and habitat needs.
Busch
Gardens' zookeepers contribute to the study by
monitoring the park's herd and sharing data with
field scientists in Africa via the Internet. Long-term
observations by Busch Gardens' zoo keepers significantly
contributed to the design of a chart used to forecast
the age and weight of this species based on the
length and twists of their horns and size and
shape of their bodies. Project Director Paul Elkin
recently visited Busch Gardens to assist zookeepers
in conducting infrared tests to better observe
this elusive species at night. Busch Gardens is
in the process of designing a program to send
a zookeeper working with the park's herd in Africa
to participate in the Nouabale-Ndoki field study.
In a cooperative effort with other AZA (American
Association of Zoos and Aquariums) institutions,
Busch Gardens closely manages bongo populations
through a program called the Species Survival
Plan (SSP), which works to improve the genetic
diversity of managed animal populations. Busch
Gardens currently has 30 SSP animals.
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| |
|
|
| Estes,
Richard D. The Behavior Guide to African Mammals:
Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates.
Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California
Press., 1991. |
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| Estes,
Richard. The Safari Companion. Vermont:
Chelsea Green Publishing Co., 1993. |
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| Kingdon,
Jonathan. East African Mammals Vol. IIIC.
Chicago: The University of Chicago Press., 1982. |
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| Nowak,
Ronald M. Walker's Mammals of the World Fifth
Ed. Vol. II. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University
Press., 1991. |
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| Spinage,
C.A. The Natural History of Antelopes.
New York: Facts on File Publications, 1986. |
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