Mountain Bongo Project

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Mountain Bongo Project

The objective of the Mountain Bongo Project is to protect and conserve the critically endangered bongo and their habitat

13/05/2026

On patrol in the Aberdares, the Mountain Bongo Project’s India ranger team retrieved a camera trap as part of routine monitoring and identified fresh signs of mountain bongo presence, including tracks and dung.

In landscapes like these, much of our work relies on reading subtle signs, building an understanding of where bongos move and how best to protect them.

Through regular patrols and monitoring, rangers continue to gather the information needed to guide conservation efforts on the ground.

Learn more about our work and how you can support. Link in bio.

11/05/2026

Felix Lenta Kuyioni is one of the Mountain Bongo Project’s newly recruited rangers, bringing both formal training and a strong personal commitment to conservation.

Having grown up in Kimelok Village, bordering the Maasai Mau Forest, he developed an early connection to the landscapes and wildlife he now helps protect. He holds a diploma in Tourism and Wildlife Management from Maasai Mara University, where he built his understanding of local ecosystems and conservation.

For Felix, becoming a ranger is about protecting natural resources and safeguarding wildlife habitats, including those of critically endangered species such as the mountain bongo. His work is grounded in dedication, discipline, and a commitment to sustainable conservation and community engagement.

This is conservation on the ground - protecting forests, wildlife, and communities together.

08/05/2026

Individual mountain bongos can be identified using a combination of three key visual features: stripe patterns, facial markings, and horn shape.

These natural characteristics vary between individuals and can be reliably observed in camera trap imagery, allowing researchers to distinguish and monitor individuals over time. This approach enables non-invasive population monitoring, which is particularly important for a species that is both rare and highly elusive.

At the Mountain Bongo Project, this forms a key part of our monitoring work, supporting efforts to track individuals and better understand the remaining wild population.

Illustration adapted from Sandri et al. (2023), used with permission. The research, focused on developing identification systems for mountain bongos, was led by Tommy Sandri and Bradley Cain, both members of the Mountain Bongo Project’s Advisory Council.

05/05/2026

As part of the Mountain Bongo Project’s Conservation Education Programme, our Community Liaison Officer, Benson Simpiri, recently visited three local schools in communities bordering the Maasai Mau Forest.

During these visits, the team assessed the germination and early growth of seedballs previously planted by students in partnership with - a simple and effective way to support tree growth and restore forest habitat - noting encouraging progress across several sites.

The visits also provided an opportunity to engage with students and teachers, reinforcing awareness around environmental conservation and the importance of tree growing.

03/05/2026

Members of the Mountain Bongo Project ranger team, Laban, Peter and John, together with three new recruits, recently took part in a Basic Ranger Refresher Training conducted by the Mara Elephant Project (MEP).

The training covered a wide range of essential skills, including drills, radio communication, mapping and GPS use, first aid, law enforcement, bushcraft, and leadership.

These skills are critical to effective patrols and on-the-ground conservation, strengthening the team’s ability to respond, coordinate, and protect.

This is conservation on the ground - investing in the people who make protection possible.

30/04/2026

The mountain bongo, or eastern bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci), was classified as a distinct subspecies in 2008. It is the largest forest-dwelling antelope and is endemic to Kenya.

It is one of two bongo subspecies. The lowland or western bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus) inhabits lowland rainforests across Central and West Africa, primarily within the Congo Basin.

Exceedingly shy, mountain bongos are forest browsers, relying on dense habitats with year-round understorey vegetation.

Today, fewer than 100 remain in the wild.

This is what we are working to protect.

Learn more about our work and stay connected by signing up to our email list via our website, link in bio.

Footage courtesy

26/04/2026

Taken in 2011, these images show Mike Prettejohn, founder of the Mountain Bongo Project, speaking to students about mountain bongos and introducing the importance of conservation from an early age.

Education has always been a key part of conservation. By engaging young people, we help foster a deeper understanding of the importance of protecting wildlife and the habitats they depend on.

Today, we continue this work by expanding wildlife clubs around the Aberdares and the Mau Forest.

More than a decade on, that commitment continues, both in the field and in the communities connected to these forests.

24/04/2026

This footage, captured by one of the Mountain Bongo Project’s camera traps in the Aberdares, shows mountain bongos feeding at a natural salt lick.

These mineral-rich sites play an important role in a forest environment. Here, the bongo lowers itself onto its front legs to reach the ground, a behaviour that allows it to access these minerals more effectively.

Moments like this offer a rare window into the life of one of the world’s most elusive antelope.

21/04/2026

Moving through dense bamboo forest in the Aberdares, Mountain Bongo Project rangers make their way to check camera traps at key monitoring sites.

These landscapes are not easy to navigate, thick vegetation, steep terrain, and the presence of wildlife such as buffalo and elephants make every patrol demanding.
But this work is essential.

By reaching these remote areas, rangers are able to monitor mountain bongos and gather the data needed to protect this critically endangered species.

This is conservation on the ground - commitment, resilience, and presence in the places that matter most.

18/04/2026

Captured by a Mountain Bongo Project camera trap in the Aberdares, this moment offers a rare glimpse into the lives of mountain bongos in their natural habitat.

These elusive antelope move quietly through dense forest, often visiting water sources like this one.

Such moments are rarely seen, but through ongoing monitoring, we are able to better understand their behaviour and protect the habitats they depend on.

15/04/2026

On patrol in the Maasai Mau Forest, the Mountain Bongo Project’s Tango ranger team, together with Kenya Wildlife Service, Mara Elephant Project and Kenya Forest Service rangers, destroyed one charcoal kiln and removed 15 red cedar posts.

Illegal logging and charcoal production continue to pose a threat to these forests and to the species that depend on them.

Reducing these pressures is key to protecting forest ecosystems and the wildlife they support.

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https://mountainbongo.org/, https://wildlife.rangerchallenge.org/campaigns/bongo-surveillance-project-team-2025

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