Rare African antelopes return to Kenya after almost four decades

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2004

MOUNT KENYA (AFP) — Eighteen mountain bongos, rare African antelopes bred in the United States, have for the first time in 38 years returned to their natural habitat in central Kenya, wildlife officials said.

"The bongos -- 14 females and four males -- are finally back in their indigenous habitats, in central Kenya," Mount Kenya National Park chief warden William Woodley told AFP, explaining that they were released from transport cages on Friday evening.

The bongos were captured from forests around Mount Kenya between 1966 and 1975 and taken to the US for breeding purposes as it became clear they were threatened with extinction.

"Apart from professional poaching and rinderpest, other diseases claimed a great number of the bongos," Woodley said, adding:...