Louisville Zoo Keeper Joanne Luyster got a big surprise when she recently checked on Kaya, a bongo that arrived in December from Toledo Zoo in Ohio.
“I gave her a quick glance and had to do a double take,” Luyster said. “She had a calf with her.”
The birth happened Jan. 11 in quarantine, a normal month-long process in which all new animals participate.
“The baby bongo was a big shock, but also a pleasant one,” Luyster said.
The first-time mother and female calf are doing well. This birth makes four bongos at the Zoo—three females and one male. Through the years, there have been six live bongo births at the Zoo.
Bongos are the largest of the forest antelopes, and are considered by many to be the most beautiful. In addition to the deep chestnut color of their coats, bongos have bright white stripes on their sides to help camouflage them from their enemies.
In 2000, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) developed a Species Survival Plan (SSP) for bongos. These plans work to improve the genetic diversity of managed animal populations. Through the efforts of zoos in North America, a reintroduction of bongos to the population in Kenya is being developed.
The bongo calf is currently off exhibit due to the cold weather, but photos are available on the Zoo website at www.louisvillezoo.org. The female calf is tentatively scheduled to go on exhibit sometime in March.
A bongo baby naming contest presented by Norton Healthcare will be announced soon.
