Native to Kenya’s mountain forests, Eastern bongos are among the world’s rarest antelopes, with fewer than 100 individuals remaining in the wild due to habitat destruction and poaching.

Annabel, aged two and a half, arrived at Dublin Zoo from Belfast Zoo in last August while pregnant. Their animal care team stated that they struggled to determine her exact due date, so she had to be monitored closely, with regular weigh-ins to observe behavioural changes. On February 19, a camera was installed in her indoor habitat to provide continuous surveillance as signs of impending delivery became evident.

The calf’s birth occurred at in an off-camera section of the habitat, surprising staff when they discovered the healthy newborn on the morning of February 20. Initially, the calf faced issues with suckling and required bottle feeding, but began nursing naturally five days later and is reported to be thriving now.

“We’re absolutely delighted to announce the birth of a beautiful female eastern bongo calf here at Dublin Zoo”, Helen Clarke, Team Leader of the Zoo, expressed. “Although her first few days were a little challenging, the progress since then has been fantastic, and it’s been wonderful to watch the bond between her and her mother Annabel grow stronger each day.”

“Visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of our newest arrival will have the best luck on sunny days”, she added. “She’s already showing a love for basking in the sunshine beside her mother.”

This brings Dublin Zoo’s eastern bongo herd to three, marking a significant milestone in their ongoing commitment to wildlife conservation through successful breeding programmes.