Bongo is the largest and heaviest forest antelope. Both the sexes have spiraled lyre shapes horns. The bright chestnut color of the animal darkens with age. Old males are almost black in color.

The flat sides of the body has 12 to 14 vertical white stripes. A black and white crest of hair runs along the spine.A white “V” shape appears between the eyes and large white spots on the cheeks. Large ears aid in hearing well.

Bongos are found in the rain forests with dense undergrowth.They are found in the Lowland rain forest of West Africa and the Congo basin.

Bongos are mostly nocturnal.They are very timid and get frightened easily. When agitated they run away and hide in a safe place! When distressed they emit a bleat. They have a limited number of vocalizations consisting of mostly grunts and snorts. Females have a weak mooing call for the young.

Males are solitary animals.They seek females only during the mating season. Females and young bongos form nursery herds. The young bongos are vulnerable- pythons, leopards and hyenas being their main predators. Lions are predators too and hunt the adult bongos.

The latest and the most dangerous predators are the humans living near the forests, who use snares and dogs to hunt down the bongos.

Visalakshi Ramani