Potter Park Zoo Welcomes Rare Eastern Bongo Calf
Dr. Alison, a joint veterinary Binder Park/Potter Park fellow, doing a neonatal exam.
Potter Park Zoo has welcomed the birth of a female eastern bongo calf on March 5, marking the second eastern bongo birth at the zoo since 2014 and only the fifth in the zoo’s history. Eastern bongos are one of the most majestic and endangered members of the antelope family, and only around 100 of them remain in the wild. The birth of this calf is a critical milestone for eastern bongo conservation efforts, as captive breeding programs like the one at Potter Park Zoo play an essential role in preventing their extinction.
A Striking Appearance and Essential Hearing Abilities
Eastern bongos are known for their striking appearance, standing up to four feet tall at the shoulders, measuring over eight feet in length, and growing long spiraling horns, which is an uncommon trait among antelope species. Bongos are also known for their impressive hearing abilities.
Keeper Autumn holding the baby bongo to get its weight.
Educating Visitors About Eastern Bongos
The calf is currently indoors with her mother Uzuri, and the animal care staff report the calf appears healthy and is gaining weight. Visitors can follow the calf’s progress on social media as part of the zoo’s commitment to education. The zoo will also announce updates on when the calf will venture into the outdoor exhibit. Cynthia Wagner, Potter Park Zoo Director, expressed her excitement for the recent birth of the eastern bongo calf and thanked the dedication and expertise of the zoo’s team who provide exceptional care for these amazing animals.
About Potter Park Zoo
Potter Park Zoo is located in Lansing, Michigan, and is home to nearly 500 animals, including critically endangered black rhinos, endangered red pandas, Massasauga rattlesnakes, and spider monkeys. The zoo is open 364 days a year, and visitors can visit its website for more information.
Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, Michigan has announced the arrival of a rare Eastern Bongo calf. The female calf, born on December 16, is the third offspring of the zoo’s seven-year-old Eastern Bongo mother, Taylor, and the first offspring for the father, Impala.
The Eastern Bongo, one of the largest antelope species in the world, is listed as critically endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. The calf’s birth is part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which aims to breed and maintain genetically diverse populations of endangered species in captivity.
The new arrival has been gaining strength and exploring her habitat under the watchful eye of her mother, who has been caring for her attentively. Zoo officials report that the calf is nursing well and gaining weight as expected, and that the baby’s vital signs are normal.
The Eastern Bongo calf has distinctive reddish-brown coats with white stripes and large, curved horns. They are native to the mountain forest habitats of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, and have evolved to be able to navigate steep terrain and dense vegetation.
Potter Park Zoo visitors will be able to see the new addition to the Eastern Bongo exhibit in the coming months. The zoo has also created a Bongo Board to track the calf’s milestones and development, which can be found on their website.
The arrival of the Eastern Bongo calf is a reminder of the importance of maintaining healthy and genetically diverse populations of endangered species. It also highlights the crucial work that zoos and aquariums do in promoting conservation efforts and protecting endangered species from extinction.
Potter Park Zoo, a member of the AZA, is committed to advancing environmental education, promoting conservation, and supporting scientific research. The zoo hosts educational programs, special events, and conservation initiatives throughout the year, and has been a popular destination for families in Michigan for over one hundred years.
As the Eastern Bongo calf grows and thrives under the care of her mother and the zoo staff, visitors can look forward to witnessing her develop into a majestic adult antelope and contribute to the survival of her species for generations to come.
