BIOPARC Valencia "hope" for a species of which only 100 specimens exist in nature

March 27, 2015

BIOPARC Valencia “hope” for a species of which only 100 specimens exist in nature

The first Oriental Bongo born in Valencia is transferred, within the European Reproduction Program, to the Beauval Zoo in France with the aim of saving this precious subspecies of antelope from extinction.

The first Oriental Bongo born in Valencia is transferred, within the European Reproduction Program, to the Beauval Zoo in France with the aim of saving this precious subspecies of antelope from extinction.
El oriental bongo (Tragelaphus euryceros isaaci) It is in critical danger of extinction, since there are only around 100 specimens in the wild and its degree of threat could be compared to that of the Iberian lynx.

Friday, March 27, 2015. In BIOPARC Valencia lives a young couple composed of a 6-year-old male and a 7-year-old female, who arrived with the objective to be part of the conservation program (EEP) of the eastern bongo that is being carried out at European level. The female was a first-timer and the birth of her first calf was doubly great news, it confirmed the reproductive capacity of the couple and meant in a short time the fulfillment of its reproductive objective.

El oriental bongo It is the largest of the African forest antelopes and one of the most beautiful. He Tragelaphus euryceros isaaci es the subspecies that lives in BIOPARC and is classified as “critically endangered” According to the IUCN Red List (International Union for Conservation of Nature) since there are between 75 and 140 specimens left in the wild, spread across 4 isolated populations. Below the critical threshold of 250 individuals, it is necessary ensure genetic variability for the recovery of the species. That is why its breeding in captivity is very important to ensure that it does not become extinct on our planet.

This species is capable of reproducing at approximately two years of life.. “Kandombe”, the first bongo born in Valencia in November 2013 was a male, and now close to reaching sexual maturity has been transferred to Beauval in France for two reasons: one to encourage a new pregnancy in the parent female and the other, to become in a short time the reproductive male of the group of 3 females that is incorporated into the important captive breeding program carried out in Europe with this species.

These actions show the fundamental role that animal parks must play as platforms for the conservation of threatened species. and awareness of visitors about the need to change the attitude in the relationship with the environment to preserve nature.