Kenya today marked a major milestone in the recovery of one of its most threatened wildlife species.

At Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy in Nanyuki, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Hon. Rebecca Miano, officially launched the Second Edition National Recovery and Action Plan for the Mountain Bongo 2026–2030 and opened the IUCN Species Survival Commission Steering Committee Meeting. She was joined by KWS Board Chair Hon. Joseph Lagat, KWS Director General Prof. Erustus Kanga, KWS management, conservation partners, researchers and community representatives.

Found only in Kenya and classified as Critically Endangered, fewer than 65 mountain bongos are estimated to remain in the wild. In the 1970s, the population stood at around 500. Today, the species clings to survival in a handful of highland forests, its future hanging by a thread.

But there is hope.

The recovery programme has recorded its 100th mountain bongo birth, a milestone that represents decades of patient, painstaking work. Behind that number are the keepers who rise before dawn, the veterinarians who monitor every pregnancy, and the scientists who match genetics to ensure every new calf strengthens the population rather than weakening it.

The new Action Plan targets a 50 per cent increase in the national mountain bongo population by 2030, building towards a self-sustaining population of 750 by 2075. It is an ambitious goal, but it is grounded in the reality of what has already been achieved.

As CS Miano emphasised, securing the mountain bongo means securing a wider national asset: our forests, water, tourism, livelihoods and communities. The bongo is a flagship species, a symbol of the highland forests that serve as Kenya’s water towers. When we protect the bongo, we protect the catchments that feed our rivers, sustain our farms and supply our cities.

The recovery plan will strengthen breeding and genetic management, expand protected habitat, and prepare for future reintroduction into the wild. It will also deepen community engagement, recognising that conservation succeeds only when local people are partners in the work.

During the launch, KWS Director General Prof. Erustus Kanga highlighted the Service’s commitment to protecting this Critically Endangered species. With a target to boost the population by 50 per cent by 2030, the journey to bringing the mountain bongo back in full force is well underway.

The launch also opened the IUCN Species Survival Commission Steering Committee Meeting, bringing together global experts to share knowledge and align efforts. Kenya is not working alone. The recovery of the bongo is a collective endeavour, supported by partners across the world who recognise that every species saved is a victory for the planet.

Today, we celebrate progress. Tomorrow, we continue the work. The mountain bongo’s story is far from over. It is a story of resilience, of hope, and of what can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose.

Together, we can bring the mountain bongo back.

Want to be part of the Bongo’s comeback? Click the link below to see how you can contribute to our efforts: https://kwspay.ecitizen.go.ke/donate.