LOWLAND BONGO

General Characteristics

  • Bongos are the largest and most colorful of the forest African antelopes.

  •  Females and young are chestnut red, with darker legs.

  • The males start out this chestnut color and proceed to darken with age, eventually becoming a dark brownish black..

  • Female horns are more parellel than the males and make one spiral turn.

  • They have large broad ears and white marker on cheeks and legs

  • They have shorter legs than other antelopes

Head to body Length : 1.7 -2.5 meters ( 5.5 feet to 8.25 feet)

Tail Length : 45 -65 centimeters ( 18- 26 inches )

Horn Length : 75 -99 cm (30- 39 in )

Shoulder Height : 1.1 – 1.3 meters ( 3 feet 8 inches to 4ft to 3 inches )

Weight :  210 -405 kgs ( 460 -890 lbs )

Range –  West and Central Africa

Habitat –  Dense tropical jungles

Food – Leaves, Twigs, bark, thistles and cereals.

They are Grazers and Browsers.

Status –  Endangered

Reason For Status : Rnderpest epidermic dieases, habitat destruction and killing by man.

As few as 140 left in the wild

Gestation :  285 days ( 9.5 months )

Lifespan : 19 years in the wild

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