Bongo Surveillance Project

Happy World Environment Day 🌱

Today, the Masese team from the Bongo Surveillance Project joined forces with and local schoolchildren to plant trees at the Nyangores Forest Station.

This year’s theme, “Restoration Generation,” highlights the critical importance of restoring our natural ecosystems. Restoring forests is essential for preserving biodiversity, combating climate change, and sustaining our planet. These efforts are especially vital for the mountain bongo, an endangered species that depends on healthy forest ecosystems for survival. By protecting and restoring their habitat, we’re not only ensuring the survival of this magnificent species but also maintaining the ecological balance that benefits all life forms.

Let’s continue to work together to safeguard our environment 💚

Did you know that both female and male mountain bongo have horns?

The bongo’s impressive horns can grow up to three feet long, and are hollow on the inside with an outer layer of keratin. When running at full speed, they will tilt their heads back so their horns follow the curvature of their back. This enables them to navigate the thick bush efficiently and quickly.

Thank you @ for this wonderful shot!

BSP is taking part in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge. Tomorrow, over 100 teams of rangers spanning the African continent will compete in a coordinated 21km race across their respective landscapes carrying 22kg of kit. The Wildlife Ranger Challenge unites thousands across the world in a common goal: to raise vital funds for frontline conservation efforts.

A team of four BSP trackers have been busy training in preparation for tomorrow's race, taking place in Lewa Conservancy. Please follow the link to support the BSP team as they take on tomorrow's challenge and for their continuous efforts in the field: https://wildlife.rangerchallenge.org/campaigns/bongo-surveillance-project-2023

Every donation you make to support the BSP team will be matched, doubling your impact!

Did you know that mountain bongo have a very powerful sense of hearing?

Bongos have large ears, as seen in the photo, which attribute to their sharp sense of hearing. This adaptation helps them navigate their dense forest habitat with safety and ease.

The bongo you can see in the photo is being looked after by the animal orphanage as a part of their mountain bongo breeding and rewilding programme. If you wish to see the beauty of a mountain bongo in the flesh, do go along and visit their sanctuary

What technology do we use to monitor the mountain bongo in the wild?

Camera traps play an essential role in BSP’s surveillance work. In the key protection areas, the BSP tracker teams have strategically placed cameras to monitor the mountain bongo within their natural habitat. The trap data, collected every few months, helps us understand more about their behaviour, group composition and distribution.

Here is a recent visit to collect camera trap data from the South-Western Mau Forest, with the support of and rangers.

Today, on World Ranger Day, we recognise the invaluable work and enduring commitment of rangers around the world to protect biodiversity and promote the conservation of ecosystems. As guardians of nature, rangers’ efforts must be celebrated every day, not just today.

The BSP tracker teams play a crucial role in protecting Kenya’s precious montane-forest ecosystems and the species that inhabit them, namely the mountain bongo. The teams operate in the challenging terrains of the four key protection areas in Kenya. Their surveillance efforts not only protect the indigenous forests from harmful illegal activity, but also collect critical data about the presence and ecology of the remaining bongo populations.

To support the BSP teams and ensure they can continue their patrols in the forests, please follow the link to donate 💚 https://rb.gy/epiqo

BSP is now on Instagram! Please follow for regular updates on BSP's work in the field and with local communities to protect the mountain bongo and their unique montane-forest habitats.

https://instagram.com/bongosurveillance?igshid=MmIzYWVlNDQ5Yg==

Bongo Surveillance Project is taking part in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge to raise awareness of the role of 18 rangers working to protect Kenya's Aberdare National Park & Maasai Mau Forest ecosystem, and support an estimated 160 livelihoods.
Rangers are Africa’s unsung heroes. They don’t just fight poaching - they are conservationists, teachers, community support workers, leaders and much more.WRC support in 2022, will see the BSP Ranger continue with their surveillance work and also pay their salaries, rations, purchases of field gears.
Give today, and the Scheinberg Relief Fund will match every dollar donated, amplifying your impact.

https://wildlife.rangerchallenge.org/campaigns/bongo-surveillance-project

Bongo Surveillanceproject, continues to support and explore different alternatives to forest illegal products.Osanangururi Pry school received Plastics posts to help in fencing their tree nursery and bongo woodlot,instead of using Cedar posts extracted from the forest.This forest is the bongo habit and continuous extraction of these illegal products poses a great threat to bongo and its habitat.

Bongo Surveillance projects continues to support the young community for for long-term investment in conservation knowledge for sustainability and natural resources ownership through Schools.BSP bongo Wildlife clubs,establishes 'bongo woodlots' in schools,hence increasing forest cover.BSP Rangers plays an important Role in mentoring the young Conservation Ambassadors.

Bongo Surveillance projects (BSP) supports conservation education programmes, in schools and in community for long term investment and sustainability. This helps them to acquire more knowledge,postive attitude and practice conservation ideas, that adds effort in conservation of the Mountain Bongo and other wildlife.

BSP alongside partner Mara Elephant Projecttracking down illegal activities in the Mau Forest. Keeping wild bongo antelope safe in their natural habitat is one of our main pillars at BSP.

In December 2021 twin Bongo calves were born in the Aberdare Bongo herd in the wild. The Bongo calves here with their mother away from herd, are very prone to predation from Leopard and Hyena.
The fact that they are now being seen back in the herd, bodes well for their future. These are the first twins for Bongo being seen in the wild.
Some 3 or more years ago a hornless Bongo female was seen by trap camera photograph in the Maasai Mau herd. Last month April May 2022 was the first sighting of her after all that time, but also rearing a calf.

Michael Prettejohn, founder and ED of BSP and Peterhannington Munene the BSP education coordinator showing the complete record of all mountain bongo antelopes found in the wild up to 2020. Bongo Surveillance Project is on the forefront of protecting the last wild mountain bongos and their habitat in Kenya. Order your copy by calling Peter at +254721748769.