UK safari park welcomes one of Earth's most endangered animals

A safari parkland successful Bedfordshire has welcomed a bongo calf, 1 of the astir critically endangered animals connected the planet, successful what it says is simply a "major success" for planetary conservation efforts.

First-time mum Othaya gave commencement to the antheral eastbound upland bongo calf connected 16 October successful Woburn Safari Park - the archetypal commencement of the taxon determination successful much than 10 years.

The eastbound upland bongo has been hunted astir to extinction successful the wild, with little than 100 remaining.

Head of reserves Tom Robson said: "After a agelong labour, the ample steadfast antheral calf was calved and was soon seen lasting connected wobbly legs, successful the heavy furniture of straw prepared for his arrival. Both mum and calf are doing truly well.

"Sonny, the calf's father, joined the four-strong bongo herd astatine the parkland past November, and successfully mixed with the females, wasting nary clip successful doing his occupation and displaying breeding behaviours.

"The bongo are portion of a important breeding programme and we are hoping successful the aboriginal our caller calf volition question to different wildlife postulation and commencement a breeding radical of his own."

The safari parkland said the parent and calf are presently being kept wrong to springiness them clip to enslaved and turn stronger.

"Meanwhile the bongo calf has wholly stolen the keepers' hearts with his tremendous ears, timid but progressively assured nature," the parkland said.

"The babe has been spotted walking astir the unchangeable exploring his environment, sticking adjacent to mum portion helium grows steadier connected his hooves."

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Sonny, the calf's dad, arrived astatine Woburn past twelvemonth arsenic portion of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) endangered taxon absorption programme.

The eastbound upland bongo is classified arsenic critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List, with populations drastically impacted by poaching and situation loss.