Mammals
Bongo
Tragelaphus eurycerus · also called bongo antelope
Moving through dense rainforest with a chestnut coat marked by vivid white stripes, a bongo ranks among the largest forest antelope in the world, its mountain-dwelling relatives now among the most critically endangered large mammals found anywhere in Africa.
Overview
The bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus, is one of the largest forest antelope species, native to forest habitat across parts of Central and East Africa. Its striking chestnut coat marked with white vertical stripes, spiralled horns present on both sexes, and critically endangered mountain population make it one of the most visually striking yet conservation-significant large antelope found anywhere in Africa.
A forest giant under real pressure
While bongo populations in some lowland forests remain relatively stable, the species’ mountain-dwelling population has declined so sharply that it now ranks among the most critically endangered large mammals on the entire African continent.
Status
Near Threatened overall, with a mountain population considered critically endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.
Bongo: common questions
How big is the bongo compared to other forest antelope?
This species is one of the largest forest-dwelling antelope in the world, considerably bigger than most other antelope adapted to dense woodland habitat.
Why is the mountain bongo considered critically endangered?
This species includes a mountain population, sometimes treated as a distinct subspecies, that has declined dramatically due to habitat loss and hunting, leaving that particular population critically endangered even though the species overall is classified as Near Threatened.
Do both male and female bongo have horns?
Yes, this species has spiralled horns present on both males and females, unlike some related antelope such as the nyala, where horns are limited to males alone.
Why is the bongo restricted to dense forest?
This species relies heavily on thick forest cover for both feeding on leaves and shoots and for protection from predators, making it closely tied to intact rainforest habitat across Central and East Africa.