Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, Prague Zoo partner for conservation and restoration of Mountain Bongo habitat
- Prague Zoo donates 10,000USD to enhance reforestation efforts around the Mount Kenya Forest, the habitat which is critical for Mountain Bongo’s survival.
- 20% of Mountain Bongo’s Forest habitat destroyed by loggers and climate change over past ten years.
- The donation will contribute to Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy’s activity which aligns with Kenya’s ambitious plans to realise forest restoration and tackle the effects of climate change by planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) today announces a new partnership with Prague Zoo to safeguard the Mountain Bongos' future through habitat rehabilitation.
The partnership will see Prague Zoo donate 10,000USD to MKWC to facilitate the reforestation of the Mount Kenya Forest ecosystem, which is vital for the survival of this critically endangered species, including funding for tree planting and seedling procurement.
Over the past ten years, rampant logging and climate change have decimated over 20% of Mount Kenya Forest’s tree cover. Further jeopardising the survival of the Mountain Bongo, of which there are fewer than 100 of these majestic animals left in the wild.
By restoring one of the Bongos’ last remaining natural refuge, the partnership aims to aid the longer-term rewilding and future of this iconic Kenyan species.
The restoration of the Mountain Bongo habitat through tree planting will also play a crucial role in contributing to Kenya’s ambitious reforesting targets. Last year, President Ruto called on Kenyans to help plant 15 billion trees and achieve 30% tree cover by 2032 to stop the cycle of drought.
The partnership follows the landmark opening of the Mawingu Mountain Bongo Sanctuary at the foothills of Mount Kenya in March 2022. MKWC has already successfully released 10 Mountain Bongos into the Sanctuary, with plans to have 750 fully rewilded Bongos by 2050.
To ensure the long-term success of the habitat restoration project, MKWC will continue hosting numerous tree-planting events and community engagement initiatives to promote the protection of the Bongo’s ecosystem. This includes inviting over 20,000 students on school trips a year to inspire students to take up the cause of conservation. Guests at the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, the hotel that sits within the conservancy can also make their impact by planting trees within the sanctuary and mountain reserve.
Dr Robert Aruho, MKWC’s Head of the Conservancy, added:
We are thrilled to work together with Prague Zoo to restore the Bongo’s vanishing habitat. Their generous donation will help tackle one of the single biggest threats to the Bongo’s existence, and we know that we cannot achieve the goal of rewilding if the Mountain Bongo has no ecosystem to thrive in. Our shared commitment will mean that for the Bongo, a brighter future awaits.
Mgr. Miroslav Bobek, Director of Prague Zoo, commented:
Prague Zoo implements and supports a number of projects aiming to protect the biodiversity, and we are delighted to start the partnership with Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy to protect forests that are key habitat for the Mountain Bongo as well as a number of other species. I believe that the fundraising activities started by our keeper Lucie Krizova which are essential for the support will expand over time and our cooperation with MKWC will become permanent.
-ENDS-
Notes to the editor:
About MKWC:
Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) is a non-profit trust dedicated to the preservation of the environment and the wildlife within. The Conservancy is located in Nanyuki, at the foot of the scenic Mount Kenya, a UN (United Nations) World Heritage Site. It is home to 28 different animal species and a population of roughly 1,200 different animals. The Conservancy’s main programmes include breeding and rewilding of the Mountain Bongo, an animal orphanage, conservation education programme.
For further information, please contact:
info@mountkenyawildlifeconservancy.org | +254 (0) 20 233 0097