female calf is healthy, weighs about 43 pounds
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard Zoo’s Eastern bongo herd has grown by four little (for a bongo) legs! Bongo Denver gave birth to her first calf on December 28.
The female calf is healthy and weighs in at about 43 pounds.
This is the fourth bongo calf the Zoo has welcomed in the last 3 years. This species is critically endangered due to habitat loss and poaching in their native range, so every birth is a safeguard against extinction.
Denver arrived at the Zoo in 2022 after being matched with the adult male bongo Sebastian by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. This program pairs animals within AZA-accredited zoos to ensure healthy, genetically diverse populations.
This newest calf joins half-sisters Ginger and Sugar along with half-brother Rio.
The calf sports a red coloring just like her mom for now. Both Eastern bongo sexes have horns, although it’ll take some time for the calf to start growing a pair of her own. Rio, who was born last August, is just starting to develop some!
Brevard Zoo’s Eastern bongos, along with other animal residents like our Ankole-Watusi cattle, are visible from the Cape to Cairo Express train, which takes guests through their habitat.
All of the Zoo’s bongos, including Denver and the new calf, can potentially be seen from the train. You may need to keep an eye out when looking for them, however!
Bongo moms tend to hide their babies in thick bushes for periods of time to protect them from potential predators.
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