20% of Mountain Bongo’s Forest Habitat Destroyed By Loggers

By Soko Directory Team / Published August 1, 2023 | 12:48 pm

Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) today announced a new partnership with Prague Zoo to safeguard the Mountain Bongos’ future through habitat rehabilitation.

The partnership will see Prague Zoo donate 10,000 USD 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 jeopardizing 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 refuges, 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 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.

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