Australasian Bongo Population

WhistlingKite24

WhistlingKite24

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
This thread aims to record the current population of Eastern Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci) in the Australasian region. Besides the female that arrived from Singapore, the population of Bongo is closely related tracing back to 2.1 individuals (males Nyeri and Marraquie, and female Nambala) imported from the United States. The only zoo that is currently in a breeding situation is Dubbo, the rest house individual males. New Zealand doesn’t currently have any bongo but Wellington did hold the Singapore female, Maisha at the zoo prior to her move to Australia. Perth Zoo and Darling Downs Zoo have both publicly expressed interest in holding Bongo.

Altina Wildlife Park, NSW, Australia
1.0 Mshindi (Ekundu x Djembe) 08-02-2015 at Taronga Zoo

Monarto Safari Park, SA, Australia
1.0 Isaac (Ndugu x Binti) 20-01-2012 at Melbourne Zoo

Taronga Zoo, NSW, Australia
1.0 Ekundu (Marraquie x Shani) 23-11-2005 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, NSW, Australia
0.1 Djembe (Marraquie x Nambala) 15-09-2008 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Kulungu (Ndugu x Binti) 26-11-2010 at Melbourne Zoo
0.1 Maisha (unk x unk) 00-00-2013 at Singapore
1.0 Kamau (Kulungu x Djembe) 05-09-2018 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Bongo Population Total: 7 (5.2)
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
This thread aims to record the current population of Eastern Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci) in the Australasian region. Besides the female that arrived from Singapore, the population of Bongo is closely related tracing back to 2.1 individuals (males Nyeri and Marraquie, and female Nambala) imported from the United States. The only zoo that is currently in a breeding situation is Dubbo, the rest house individual males. New Zealand doesn’t currently have any bongo but Wellington did hold the Singapore female, Maisha at the zoo prior to her move to Australia. Perth Zoo and Darling Downs Zoo have both publicly expressed interest in holding Bongo.


Altina Wildlife Park, NSW, Australia
1.0 Mshindi (Ekundu x Djembe) 08-02-2015 at Taronga Zoo

Monarto Safari Park, SA, Australia
1.0 Isaac (Ndugu x Binti) 20-01-2012 at Melbourne Zoo

Taronga Zoo, NSW, Australia
1.0 Ekundu (Marraquie x Shani) 23-11-2005 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, NSW, Australia
0.1 Djembe (Marraquie x Nambala) 15-09-2008 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Kulungu (Ndugu x Binti) 26-11-2010 at Melbourne Zoo
0.1 Maisha (unk x unk) 00-00-2013 at Singapore
1.0 Kamau (Kulungu x Djembe) 05-09-2018 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Bongo Population Total: 7 (5.2)
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Any idea what happened to Kiani, born in 2013 to Ndugu and Binti? Female Binti died in 2015 after running into a fence and male Ndugu died around 2018ish; as I recall him being off display following the removal of the Bongo enclosure.
 
Jambo said:
Any idea what happened to Kiani, born in 2013 to Ndugu and Binti? Female Binti died in 2015 after running into a fence and male Ndugu died around 2018ish; as I recall him being off display following the removal of the Bongo enclosure.
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The bongo that was born at Melbourne to Ndugu and Binti in 2013 was called Madiba. He moved to Altina Wildlife Park and unfortunately died there due to a heart condition in 2016.
 
Just to add Monarto zoo have them listed as part of the species list for the new African exhibit :cool:.
I seem to remember the first pair at Taronga zoo were a birthday gift from the San Deigo zoo for the zoo but futher importation at that time would of been a big plus for them!
 
Zorro said:
Just to add Monarto zoo have them listed as part of the species list for the new African exhibit :cool:
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Yes, I'd imagine the male bongo they currently have would move to the new area when completed. In a livestream last year they did express their interest in acquiring a female (can't imagine them getting one without an import though). Monarto also used to have another male Rambo that died a few years ago who used to live with their current male, Isaac.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
The bongo that was born at Melbourne to Ndugu and Binti in 2013 was called Madiba. He moved to Altina Wildlife Park and unfortunately died there due to a heart condition.
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Thanks @WhistlingKite24, and great list.:cool:

I think I have confused him with Kiazi (born at Taronga in 2012. That’s sad news though re. Madiba.

It seems Bongo breeding is lacking recently. Only TWPZ have an eligible group. Has female Maisha from Singapore bred yet? Her genetics would be valuable to the region.
 
Zorro said:
I seem to remember the first pair at Taronga zoo were a birthday gift from the San Deigo zoo for the zoo but futher importation at that time would of been a big plus for them!
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That’s correct. They arrived in 1996 and were named Nyeri (born 23/03/1995 at Dickerson Park Zoo) and Nambala (born at San Diego Zoo 19/08/1995). I see all the Bongo in the region (aside from Maisha) descend from this pair and that there’s already been inbreeding. Ekundu is the niece of Djembe (via Djembe’s sister, Shani) and has sired calves to her.

Since quarantine via New Zealand is a viable option, Australian zoos really should make use of this like they did with Maisha’s import. It’d be great to see one of the open range zoos establish a decent sized breeding herd.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Yes, I'd imagine the male bongo they currently have would move to the new area when completed. In a livestream last year they did express their interest in acquiring a female (can't imagine getting one without an import). Monarto also used to have another male Rambo that died a few years ago who used to live with their current male, Isaac.
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I saw a live feed from the Monatro zoo a few months ago with people sending in questions live for the keepers to answer with one of the questions being did the zoo intend to obtain more Bongo and the reply was yes they did :)
 
Is there any chance anyone would be able to fill in the gaps of previous animals that may now be decease or exported etc. As someone who hasn’t followed the bongo population that closely would be interesting to know where all current animals descend from.
 
Riley said:
Is there any chance anyone would be able to fill in the gaps of previous animals that may now be decease or exported etc. As someone who hasn’t followed the bongo population that closely would be interesting to know where all current animals descend from.
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I dug up a few details in researching them last year:

Eastern Bongo in Australian Zoos

There’s a studbook link in Post #4 and Post #5 (historical listings).
 
Zoofan15 said:
Since quarantine via New Zealand is a viable option, Australian zoos really should make use of this like they did with Maisha’s import. It’d be great to see one of the open range zoos establish a decent sized breeding herd.
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Or better yet some of the NZ Zoos should get them! They'd be a perfect fit for the open range Orana Park.
 
Tafin said:
Or better yet some of the NZ Zoos should get them! They'd be a perfect fit for the open range Orana Park.
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Hamilton would be another great fit. I would love to see Auckland maybe get some as well.

It's a shame Melbourne got rid of them as it seemed they were doing well there, and they had a decent enclosure. When the Mandrills died out, one would have thought that Bongo's would have been a suitable replacement for that exhibit. Instead they chose Cassowary. :rolleyes:
 
Jambo said:
Hamilton would be another great fit. I would love to see Auckland maybe get some as well.

It's a shame Melbourne got rid of them as it seemed they were doing well there, and they had a decent enclosure. When the Mandrills died out, one would have thought that Bongo's would have been a suitable replacement for that exhibit. Instead they chose Cassowary. :rolleyes:
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Correct me if I am wrong but I seem to recall with the Melbourne pair the female run into a fence and died and then that was the end of the species at the zoo since?
 
Zorro said:
Correct me if I am wrong but I seem to recall with the Melbourne pair the female run into a fence and died and then that was the end of the species at the zoo since?
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Yes that was Binti. She was born 21/08/2004 and died at Melbourne Zoo in 2015. It’s ridiculous that one set back was considered cause enough to give up on the species. An investigation into the incident should have identified preventative measures that could be taken to avoid it happening again. And that’s if there were any - the impression I got, it was a freak accident and there’s no reason to believe it would occur again.

The open range zoos are the place for breeding herds; but city zoos are still useful for holding surplus non breeding bulls etc.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Yes that was Binti. She was born 21/08/2004 and died at Melbourne Zoo in 2015. It’s ridiculous that one set back was considered cause enough to give up on the species. An investigation into the incident should have identified preventative measures that could be taken to avoid it happening again. And that’s if there were any - the impression I got, it was a freak accident and there’s no reason to believe it would occur again.

The open range zoos are the place for breeding herds; but city zoos are still useful for holding surplus non breeding bulls etc.
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It almost seems to be the same type of thing with Taronga keeping the rare Javan Gibbon one set back and they get the boot!
 
Zorro said:
Correct me if I am wrong but I seem to recall with the Melbourne pair the female run into a fence and died and then that was the end of the species at the zoo since?
Click to expand...

Zoofan15 said:
Yes that was Binti. She was born 21/08/2004 and died at Melbourne Zoo in 2015. It’s ridiculous that one set back was considered cause enough to give up on the species. An investigation into the incident should have identified preventative measures that could be taken to avoid it happening again. And that’s if there were any - the impression I got, it was a freak accident and there’s no reason to believe it would occur again.

The open range zoos are the place for breeding herds; but city zoos are still useful for holding surplus non breeding bulls etc.
Click to expand...

Yes, Binti ran into the fence in 2015. A ban was apparently put in place after her death by Zoos Victoria, banning any Bongo from being imported, which I find ridiculous. Antelope, Zebra, Giraffe, run into fences in Zoos all over the world. It's a common event, especially if the animal is spooked. I would be intrigued to know what caused Binti to run into the fence.

Melbourne's last Bongo, their breeding male, Ndugu, died in 2017. For about a year before his death, lets say around 2016, a small creak full of rocks was built in front of the Bongo enclosure, and it seemed like the enclosure was empty. I was surprised when in 2017, during one of my visits, I saw a Bongo right up near the front of the fence line of the enclosure. I was surprised the Zoo still had them! Anyways, by the end of that year, the enclosure was unfortunately demolished and made as an extension to the Giraffe/Zebra enclosure. The Zebra's now use the Bongo's former Night Area.
 
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