After today's post there will only be twenty more species to go in this thread (many of whom I imagine everyone can guess). Today's post, however, will be for a more unusual mammal, and the only antelope species to be featured in this thread. That species is the
Bongo! Now, you may be wondering why I chose to feature the bongo and not other antelope species. One of the main reasons is that bongo, being forest-dwellers, are more commonly exhibited in single-species exhibits so wouldn't be as monotonous as with some of the species commonly mixed. Mixed-species ungulate exhibits are already well-represented in this thread due to the rhino, giraffe, and zebra posts, so I figured do something a little more unique to represent antelope.
The criteria used for bongo are:
- Space: Bongo are large animals, and as such require large exhibits to qualify for this thread.
- Shade: As a forest antelope species, it is important to consider this when designing bongo exhibits. The ideal bongo exhibit includes trees and other shaded areas instead of being a traditional, open ungulate paddock.
The five exhibits selected for this post are:
- One large, well-planted bongo exhibit can be found at Jacksonville Zoo. A breeding trio of bongo share this spacious habitat, which includes a large water feature and is visible from a number of different vantage points on a boardwalk. This also happens to be a mixed-species exhibit, shared with yellow-backed duikers:
Photo By:
@Moebelle
Photo By:
@Moebelle
Photo By:
@Moebelle
Photo By:
@Sarus Crane
- While not a grasslands species, that doesn't mean that a spacious and lush habitat for bongo isn't a part of the African Grasslands at Omaha's Henry-Doorly Zoo. While home to much more tall grass than other plants, this remains a large, impressive habitat- with multiple tall trees, a water feature, and plenty of areas to hide in the tall grass. This habitat is visible both from ground level and the Skyfari. Sharing this exhibit are (unfortunately flight-restricted) blue cranes:
Photo By:
@pachyderm pro
Photo By:
@Pleistohorse
Photo By:
@Dhole dude
Photo By:
@snowleopard
- A mush more lushly planted habitat, with numerous trees and other plants, can be found at the Brevard Zoo. This habitat is similarly spacious, but uses to its advantage the fact Floridian zoos have much more flexibility in tropical plants than other parts of the country. This habitat contains both densely planted pockets, and areas that are simply dirt, to allow the bongos choice and control of their surroundings:
Photo By:
@Pleistohorse
Photo By:
@Pleistohorse
Photo By:
@Pleistohorse
- Just because a zoo is located in a Northern state doesn't mean they can't have well-planted habitats though, as is shown by the bongo exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo. Bamboo and live trees create a lush, well-planted habitat for the zoo's bongos. While smaller than some of the other habitats mentioned in this post, this remains a very solid habitat for a species that often isn't prominently highlighted:
Photo By:
@TinoPup
Photo By:
@Moebelle
Photo By:
@Moebelle
- Great habitats don't always have to re-invent the wheel, and sometimes a traditional style habitat, thoughtfully designed, can make for an excellent exhibit. This approach is shown at the Louisville Zoo, which displays bongo in a spacious paddock, which includes a number of live trees and other densely planted patches. Crowned cranes and Ruppel's vultures (unfortunately both flight-restricted) share this spacious habitat:
Photo By:
@TinoPup
Photo By:
@TinoPup
Photo By:
@Moebelle
