Range

Africa is the native home of the bongo. They are split in to three separate populations.

Their range covers the following countries - Benin; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Côte d'Ivoire; Gabon; Ghana; Guinea; Kenya; Liberia; Niger; Sierra Leone; South Sudan and Togo.

The bongo has gone extinct in Uganda.

Habitat

These animals are among the most distinctive species of forest antelope. They make their home in rainforest, forest-savanna and disturbed forest.

Reproduction

Males and females will only seek out one another during the breeding season. This season tends to fall between October and January.

A single calf is born after the end of a 9 month gestation period. For the first week after birth the calf is hidden out of sight and receives a short visit from the parents to feed it.

Calves are fast growers and can quickly move around with their mothers herd.

Sexual maturity is reached around 2 years old.

Behavior

Male bongos are primarily solitary. They tend to avoid one another outside of the breeding season. Females will move together in herds of up to 10 members.

If males come in contact with one another they will bulge their necks, roll their eyes and hold the horns up while pacing at one another.

The bongo is primarily nocturnal emerging between dawn and dusk to forage.

These animals make a wide range of vocalizations including a grunt, snort, bleat or moo.

When fleeing a predator the bongo will place its horns against its back and this can cause bald patches to form on the back.

Bongos are good jumpers but generally go around or under an obstacle.

Predators and Threats

Natural predators of the bongo include hyenas, leopards and lions. Young individuals may also be consumed by snakes.

Increasing populations of their predators has accelerated the decline in numbers of the bongo.

Humans are affecting the bongo through habitat destruction and hunting for meat. They are also sought after as a trophy.

Quick facts

Two subspecies of bongo are widely recognized. These are the mountain bongo and the eastern bongo.

If you touch a bongo following rain the red color will run off on to your hands.

Local people previously viewed it as taboo to feed on bongo meat. Unfortunately this has been unable to stop hunting of them. In some cultures there is a belief that touching or eating bongo will cause spasms.