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72-556: The zoo is divided into five loops: Expedition Africa, Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond, Wild Florida, Rainforest Revealed, and Paws On. These loops are accessed off of the main loop that encircles the flamingo pond. In 1986, the East Coast Zoological Society of Florida, Inc. (ECZS) formed. One of their goals was to build a zoo for Brevard County to "serve as a conversation hub where people could gather to learn about animals and nature. A place to escape from

144-477: A Baird's tapir , a family of capybara , and a Linnaeus's two-toed sloth . In March 2007, a newly constructed vulture exhibit opened, which houses king vultures , turkey vultures and black vultures . Vulture feedings and demonstrations are offered to visitors much the same way they are conducted within the Wild Florida loop. The exhibit reopened under the new name, Rainforest Revealed. Paws On provides

216-432: A breeding program with its two female southern white rhinos. In 2014, the black-throated monitor died. It was donated to the zoo when it was two years old in 2005. In 2017, the zoo renovated their Australia and Asia exhibits and reopened them as "Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond". In 2019, the zoo renovated their La Selva exhibits and reopened them as "Rainforest Revealed". The Wildlife Detective Training Academy

288-530: A distressed operation in central South Africa. The nonprofit, managing 22 conservation areas over 20 million hectares across 12 African countries, has begun reintroducing these rhinos to their natural habitats, starting with a donation of 40 rhinos to the Munywana Conservancy in the southeast of South Africa . This effort aims to relocate 15% of the global southern white rhino population to protected areas within their historical ranges, in response to

360-401: A habitat for lions . In early 2024, the zoo welcomed an Okapi named George As its name implies, this loop features animals from Australia, Oceania, Southeast Asia and South America. Visitors can find animals such as the red kangaroos , emus , dingos , North Sulawesi babirusas , Visayan warty pigs , wrinkled hornbills and black swans . Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond also hosts

432-496: A habitat where Sumatran and Javan rhinoceros once roamed. The remaining two southern white rhinos began the process of being released into the wild on May 13, 2014. In 2023, African Parks , supported by foundations such as those of Howard Buffett and the Walton Family , has launched a major conservation initiative by purchasing the largest privately-owned herd of southern white rhinos, consisting of 2,000 animals from

504-544: A healthy captive population of this subspecies offers the potential for its reintroduction. In 2004, Dr. Jake Veasey, the head of the Department of Animal Management and Conservation at Woburn Safari Park and a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums Population Management Advisory Group, with the assistance of Lindsay Banks, took over responsibility for the management and coordination of

576-442: A large animal, the bongo requires an ample amount of food, and is restricted to areas with abundant year-round growth of herbs and low shrubs. Few estimates of population density are available. Assuming average population densities of 0.25 animals per km in regions where it is known to be common or abundant, and 0.02 per km elsewhere, and with a total area of occupancy of 327,000 km , a total population estimate of around 28,000

648-457: A new mystery every month in which children could investigate and find clues throughout the zoo. The building is located to the right of the main entrance in a separate building. After Paws On reopened in 2009, visitors had to go through Paws On to enter the WDTA. The WDTA did not reopen to the public after the zoo reopened after closing during the 2020 pandemic. Expedition Africa offers kayaking on

720-555: A new oryx calf was born at the zoo. On December 8, 2020, three two-year-old male Watusi cattle (Maximus, Boss Hogg and Galloping Ghost) arrived at the zoo from a ranch in Oklahoma, and the zoo's first eastern bongo (a five-year-old male named Sebastian from the Naples Zoo ), who only has one horn—the other was surgically removed following an injury at a previous facility, came the next day. The zoo plans to add additional paths and

792-478: A place for children to play in a playground, a splash pad, and a petting zoo for children to explore. The exhibit includes a shallow swimming area (splash pad); an aquarium mimicking the underwater environment of the nearby Indian River Lagoon with animals such as tarpons, stingrays, and black drums ; a viewing tank with horseshoe crabs , hermit crabs, and Florida crown conchs; a pizzeria, and various other attractions aimed towards children of all ages. Exhibits from

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864-536: A ritualised manner and it is rare for serious fights to take place. However, such fights are usually discouraged by visual displays, in which the males bulge their necks, roll their eyes, and hold their horns in a vertical position while slowly pacing back and forth in front of the other male. They seek out females only during mating time. When they are with a herd of females, males do not coerce them or try to restrict their movements as do some other antelopes. Although mostly nocturnal , they are occasionally active during

936-488: A short neck and broad chest. Females weigh around 1,600–1,700 kg (3,530–3,750 lb) and males around 2,000–2,300 kg (4,410–5,070 lb), with specimens of up to 3,600 kilograms (7,940 lb) considered reliable, and larger sizes up to 4,500 kg (9,920 lb) claimed but not verified. The head-and-body length is 3.35–4 m (11.0–13.1 ft) and a shoulder height of 160–186 cm (5.25–6.10 ft). It has two horns on its snout. The front horn

1008-427: A single calf, after a gestation period that lasts around 16 months. Males are never directly involved in the raising of calves; in rare instances, certain rogue individuals may even kill calves that they perceive as future competition, both for resources and bloodline dominance. Newborn calves weigh about 45 kg (100 pounds) at birth. Young usually become independent in 2–3 years. The southern white rhino lives in

1080-420: A storm, as a rich source of salt and minerals. This behavior is believed to be a means of getting salts and minerals into their diets. This behavior has also been reported in the okapi . Another similarity to the okapi, though the bongo is unrelated, is that the bongo has a long prehensile tongue which it uses to grasp grasses and leaves. Suitable habitats for bongos must have permanent water available. As

1152-522: A substantial amount of genetic material is lost each generation. Whilst the population remains small, the impact of transfers will be greater, so the establishment of a "metapopulation management plan" occurs concurrently with conservation initiatives to enhance in situ population growth, and this initiative is both urgent and fundamental to the future survival of mountain bongo in the wild. The western/lowland bongo faces an ongoing population decline as habitat destruction and hunting pressures increase with

1224-488: A tail of 45–65 cm (18–26 in). Females weigh around 150–235 kg (331–518 lb), while males weigh about 220–405 kg (485–893 lb). Its large size puts it as the third-largest in the Bovidae tribe of Strepsicerotini, behind both the common and greater eland by about 300 kg (660 lb), and above the greater kudu by about 40 kg (88 lb). Both sexes have heavy spiral horns; those of

1296-655: Is 250 animals. Through the efforts of zoos in North America, a reintroduction to the population in Kenya is being developed. At least one collaborative effort for reintroduction between North American wildlife facilities has already been carried out. In 2004, 18 eastern bongos born in North American zoos gathered at White Oak Conservation in Yulee, Florida for release in Kenya. White Oak staff members traveled with

1368-480: Is a large, mostly nocturnal , forest -dwelling antelope , native to sub-Saharan Africa . Bongos are characterised by a striking reddish-brown coat, black and white markings, white-yellow stripes, and long slightly spiralled horns. It is the only tragelaphid in which both sexes have horns. Bongos have a complex social interaction and are found in African dense forest mosaics. They are the third-largest antelope in

1440-545: Is about 285 days (9.5 months), with one young per birth, and weaning occurs at six months. Sexual maturity is reached at 24–27 months. The preferred habitat of this species is so dense and difficult to operate in, that few Europeans or Americans observed this species until the 1960s. As young males mature and leave their maternal groups, they most often remain solitary, although rarely they join an older male. Adult males of similar size/age tend to avoid one another. Occasionally, they meet and spar with their horns in

1512-784: Is classified by the IUCN Antelope Specialist Group as Critically Endangered , with fewer individuals in the wild than in captivity (where it breeds readily). In 2000, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in the USA (AZA) upgraded the bongo to a Species Survival Plan participant and in 2006 added the Bongo Restoration to Mount Kenya Project to its list of the Top Ten Wildlife Conservation Success Stories of

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1584-409: Is darker in color than the western and this is especially pronounced in older males which tend to be chestnut brown, especially on the forepart of their bodies. The smooth coat is marked with 10–15 vertical white-yellow stripes, spread along the back from the base of the neck to the rump. The number of stripes on each side is rarely the same. It also has a short, bristly, brown ridge of dorsal hair from

1656-473: Is earned and not raised through fundraising or grants. In 2007, the zoo started renovations on their Paws On exhibit, with it reopening in April 2009. Renovations included a shallow swimming area and an aquarium. The Contact Yard (petting zoo) was updated and reopened as “The Barnyard”. In October 2012, one of the southern white rhinos from this zoo was transferred to Alabama's Birmingham Zoo to take part in

1728-409: Is found on the ear fringes and tail bristles, with the rest distributed sparsely over the rest of the body. The southern white rhino has a distinctive flat, broad mouth that is used for grazing . Southern white rhinos are strictly herbivores (graminivores) that feed on short grasses. Little is known about southern white rhinoceros mating habits, but females reproduce every 2–3 years. They give birth to

1800-414: Is larger than the other horn and averages 60 cm (24 in) in length and can reach 166 cm (65 in) in females. Females usually have longer but thinner horns than the males, who have larger but shorter ones. The southern white rhinoceros also has a prominent muscular hump that supports its large head. The colour of this animal can range from yellowish brown to slate grey. Most of its body hair

1872-437: Is required. They have been observed to live up to 19 years. Bongos are one of the largest of the forest antelopes. In addition to the deep chestnut colour of their coats, they have bright white stripes on their sides to help with camouflage . Adults of both sexes are similar in size. Adult height is about 1.1 to 1.3 m (3.6 to 4.3 ft) at the shoulder and length is 2.15 to 3.15 m (7.1 to 10.3 ft), including

1944-506: Is suggested. Only about 60% are in protected areas, suggesting the actual numbers of the lowland subspecies may only be in the low tens of thousands. In Kenya, their numbers have declined significantly and on Mount Kenya , they were extirpated within the last decade due to illegal hunting with dogs. Although information on their status in the wild is lacking, lowland bongos are not presently considered endangered. Bongos are susceptible to diseases such as rinderpest , which almost exterminated

2016-466: Is very popular in zoos and private collections. In North America, over 400 individuals are thought to be held, a population that probably exceeds that of the mountain bongo in the wild. In 2000, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) upgraded the bongo to a Species Survival Plan participant, which works to improve the genetic diversity of managed animal populations. The target population for participating zoos and private collections in North America

2088-601: The City of San Diego ) has been an international leader in southern white rhinoceros husbandry and breeding. However, reproductive rates are fairly low among captive-born female southern white rhinoceroses, potentially due to eating a different diet than would be consumed in the wild. Ongoing research, through San Diego Zoo Global , is hoping to not only focus on this, but also on identifying other captive species that are possibly affected and developing new diets and feeding practices aimed at enhancing fertility. When managed correctly,

2160-572: The Kele language of Gabon . The first known use of the name "bongo" in English dates to 1861. Bongos are further classified into two subspecies : T. e. eurycerus , the lowland or western bongo, and the far rarer T. e. isaaci , the mountain or eastern bongo, restricted to the mountains of Kenya only. The eastern bongo is larger and heavier than the western bongo. Two other subspecies are described from West and Central Africa, but taxonomic clarification

2232-1360: The Republic of the Congo , the Democratic Republic of Congo , the Ivory Coast , Equatorial Guinea , Gabon , Ghana , Guinea , Liberia , Sierra Leone , South Sudan . Historically, bongos are found in three disjunct parts of Africa: East, Central, and West. Today, all three populations' ranges have shrunk in size due to habitat loss for agriculture and uncontrolled timber cutting, as well as hunting for meat. Bongos favour disturbed forest mosaics that provide fresh, low-level green vegetation. Such habitats may be promoted by heavy browsing by elephants, fires, flooding, tree-felling (natural or by logging), and fallowing . Mass bamboo die-off provides ideal habitat in East Africa. They can live in bamboo forests. Like many forest ungulates , bongos are herbivorous browsers and feed on leaves, bushes, vines , bark (bark and pith of rotting trees, grasses/herbs, roots, cereals , and fruits. Bongos require salt in their diets, and are known to regularly visit natural salt licks. Bongos are also known to eat burnt wood after

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2304-496: The Yellow-Naped Amazon . This exhibit also features a pirate-themed scavenger hunt. The zoo received 363,426 visitors in 2011, up 5% from the previous year. This represented the second highest number of visitors on record. Southern white rhino The southern white rhinoceros or southern white rhino ( Ceratotherium simum simum ) is one of the two subspecies of the white rhinoceros (the other being

2376-863: The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Uganda, and in the Lake Nakuru National Park and the Kigio Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. In 2010, nine southern white rhinoceroses were imported from South Africa , shipped to the Yunnan Province in southwestern China , where they were kept in an animal-wildlife park for quarantine and acclimitisation. In March 2013, seven of the animals were shipped to the Laiyanghe National Forest Park,

2448-413: The genus Tragelaphus and family Bovidae . It was first described by Irish naturalist William Ogilby in 1837. The generic name Tragelaphus is composed of two Greek words: trag- , meaning a goat; and elaphos , meaning deer. The specific name eurycerus originated from the fusion of eurus (broad, widespread) and keras (an animal's horn). The common name "bongo" originated probably from

2520-430: The grasslands , savannahs , and shrublands of southern Africa, ranging from South Africa to Zambia . About 98.5% of southern white rhino live in just five countries: South Africa, Namibia , Zimbabwe , Kenya and Uganda . The southern white rhino is listed as Near Threatened ; it is mostly threatened by habitat loss and poaching for rhino horn for use in traditional Chinese medicine . The southern white rhino

2592-595: The Aberdare Forests using camera traps, and, by analyzing DNA extracted from dung , have confirmed the presence of bongo in Mount Kenya, Eburru , and Mau forests . The programme estimate as few as 140 animals left in the wild – spread across four isolated populations. Whilst captive breeding programmes can be viewed as having been successful in ensuring survival of this species in Europe and North America,

2664-454: The animal can quickly flee. When in distress, the bongo emits a bleat . It uses a limited number of vocalisations, mostly grunts and snorts; females have a weak mooing contact-call for their young. Females prefer to use traditional calving grounds restricted to certain areas, while newborn calves lie in hiding for a week or more, receiving short visits by the mother to suckle . The calves grow rapidly and can soon accompany their mothers in

2736-587: The bongos to a Mount Kenya holding facility, where they stayed until being reintroduced. In the last few decades, a rapid decline in the numbers of wild mountain bongo has occurred due to poaching and human pressure on their habitat, with local extinctions reported in Cherangani and Chepalungu hills, Kenya. The Bongo Surveillance Programme, working alongside the Kenya Wildlife Service , have recorded photos of bongos at remote salt licks in

2808-448: The bongos' habitat believed that if they ate or touched bongo, they would have spasms similar to epileptic seizures . Because of this superstition , bongos were less harmed in their native ranges than expected. However, these taboos are said no longer to exist, which may account for increased hunting by humans in recent times. An international studbook is maintained to help manage animals held in captivity. Because of its bright colour, it

2880-620: The core of a bongo's horn is hollow and the outer layer of the horn is made of keratin , the same material that makes up human fingernails, toenails, and hair. The bongo runs gracefully and at full speed through even the thickest tangles of lianas , laying its heavy spiralled horns on its back so the brush cannot impede its flight. Bongos are hunted for their horns by humans. Like other forest ungulates , bongos are seldom seen in large groups. Males, called bulls, tend to be solitary, while females with young live in groups of six to eight. Bongos have seldom been seen in herds of more than 20. Gestation

2952-421: The correct scientific name for the northern subspecies is Ceratotherium cottoni and the southern subspecies should be known as simply Ceratotherium simum . Distinct morphological and genetic differences suggest the two proposed species have been separated for at least a million years. The southern white rhinoceros is one of largest and heaviest land animals in the world . It has an immense body and large head,

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3024-426: The day. However, like deer, bongos may exhibit crepuscular behaviour. Bongos are both timid and easily frightened; after a scare, a bongo moves away at considerable speed, even through dense undergrowth. Once they find cover, they stay alert and face away from the disturbance, but peek every now and then to check the situation. The bongo's hindquarters are less conspicuous than the forequarters, and from this position

3096-547: The direct descendants of a cooperative breeding program initiated in the 1970s to increase the population, and maintain genetic diversity, without capturing individuals from the wild. In Escondido, California , 96 calves have been born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park since its opening in 1972. The nearly 2,000-acre Park, which is the sister-facility of the San Diego Zoo (located 30 miles south in

3168-511: The entrances to the Africa and Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond. The exhibit includes American alligators , American crocodiles , bald eagles , crested caracaras , sandhill cranes , turtles , American black bears , white-tailed deer , wild turkeys , and bobcats . Feeding is demonstrated in this loop. There is also an area to kayak into the wetlands in the back.In 2021 the two North American river otters fell ill and died unexpectedly,

3240-755: The exhibit that once held the otters is now the home of the alligator snapping turtle . On May 1, 2022, a trio of African lion brothers arrived at the zoo from the Naples Zoo. They are temporarily housed in the Florida loop until a permanent enclosure is built for them in Expedition Africa. La Selva houses the zoo's black howler monkeys , jaguars , cotton-top tamarins , giant anteaters , golden-headed lion tamarins , black-handed spider monkeys , Chilean flamingos , macaws , tortoises , reptiles and fishes . This loop also feature's green iguanas ,

3312-421: The free-flight aviary where visitors have the option of feeding rainbow lorikeets . The aviary is home to: galahs , cockatiels , laughing kookaburras , Victoria crowned pigeons and radjah shelducks , among others. It is divided into two sections - the "lorikeet side" and the "cockatiel side". Right across from the aviary is a state of the art kangaroo walkabout where guests can get up close and personal with

3384-463: The giraffes at eye-level. Siamangs are located in-between the entrances to the Expedition Africa and Lands of Change loops. Cheetahs were added in February 2010. Meerkats were added in 2014. Two zebra mares were added to the white rhino exhibit on President's Day 2015. The zoo also has a population of scimitar oryx, a species that has been extinct in the wild since 2000, On February 3, 2017,

3456-638: The grounds of the zoo. Trained staff lead the kayak trips and provide informative dialogue during a slow glide past African-themed exhibits. These exhibits include: Masai giraffes , impalas , Grévy's zebras , white rhinos , scimitar oryxes , dromedary camels , klipspringers , meerkats , a common ostrich , crested guineafowl , West African crowned cranes , southern ground hornbills , marabou storks and African spurred tortoises . The area also includes red ruffed and ring-tailed lemurs and radiated tortoises from Madagascar . After kayaking, visitors can climb up to an observation platform where they can feed

3528-562: The historical range of the southern white rhinoceros in Botswana , Eswatini , Namibia , Zambia , Zimbabwe and in the southwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo , while a small population survives in Mozambique . Populations have also been introduced outside of the former range of the species to Kenya , Uganda and Zambia , where their northern relatives used to occur. The southern white rhinoceros has been reintroduced into

3600-440: The horns range between 75 and 99 cm (29.5 and 39 in). The horns of bongos are spiraled, and share this trait with those of the related antelope species of nyalas , sitatungas , bushbucks , kudus , and elands . The horns of bongos twist once. Unlike deer , which have branched antlers shed annually, bongos and other antelopes have unbranched horns they keep throughout their lives. Like all other horns of antelopes,

3672-468: The male are longer and more massive. All bongos in captivity are from the isolated Aberdare Mountains of central Kenya . The bongo sports a bright auburn or chestnut coat, with the neck, chest, and legs generally darker than the rest of the body, especially in males. Coats of male bongos become darker as they age until they reach a dark mahogany -brown colour. Coats of female bongos are usually more brightly coloured than those of males. The eastern bongo

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3744-561: The manmade world and reconnect with the diversity of the life with which we share this planet." In 1992, construction of the zoo began, with over 16,000 people coming together to help build the zoo. The Brevard Zoo claims to have had "The World's Largest Volunteer Community Build". Brevard Zoo celebrated its grand opening on March 26, 1994. A record 328,973 visitors attended in 2007. This included 175,046 paid daily guests. The others included reciprocal members of other zoos, and annual members. The zoo has an annual budget of $ 5 million most of which

3816-739: The much rarer northern white rhinoceros ). It is the most common and widespread subspecies of rhinoceros . The southern white rhinoceros is the nominate subspecies ; it was given the scientific name Ceratotherium simum simum by the English explorer William John Burchell in the 1810s. The subspecies is also known as Burchell's rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum burchellii ) after Burchell and Oswell's rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum oswellii ) after William Cotton Oswell , respectively. However, these are considered synonyms of its original scientific name. Ceratotherium simum kiaboaba (or Rhinoceros kiaboaba ), also known as straight-horned rhinoceros ,

3888-596: The nursery herds. Their horns grow rapidly and begin to show in 3.5 months. They are weaned after six months and reach sexual maturity at about 20 months. Bongos are found in tropical jungles with dense undergrowth up to an altitude of 4,000 m (13,000 ft) in Central Africa, with isolated populations in Kenya , and these West African countries: Cameroon , the Central African Republic ,

3960-735: The old Paws On that were kept include the Soil Cube and the Whale Slide. The Barnyard (petting zoo) contains Nigerian dwarf goats , an African spurred tortoise , and chickens. Other animals include eastern box turtles and two female bloodhounds named Cindy Pawford and Sarah Jessica Barker. Opened in November of 2013, the “Treasures of the Caribbean” trail is home to animals such as the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana and

4032-422: The preservation of larger areas of bongo habitat than national parks, especially in remote regions of Central Africa, where possibilities for commercially successful tourism are very limited. The eastern/mountain bongo's survival in the wild is dependent on more effective protection of the surviving remnant populations in Kenya. If this does not occur, it will eventually become extinct in the wild. The existence of

4104-472: The primary natural predators ( lions are seldom encountered due to differing habitat preferences); pythons sometimes eat bongo calves. Humans prey on them for their pelts , horns, and meat, with the species being a common local source for "bush meat". Bongo populations have been greatly reduced by hunting, poaching , and animal trapping , although some bongo refuges exist. Although bongos are quite easy for humans to catch using snares, many people native to

4176-555: The rate of natural reproduction among captive-born southern white females is relatively successful, as can be seen by the success of John Frederik Hume 's rhino-breeding initiative, which currently has an average of 200 natural births per year, and has seen more than 1,800 natural births since 1993. In South Africa , a population of southern white rhinos are being raised on farms and ranches for their horns, along with black rhinos , in an effort to mitigate poaching. Bongo (antelope) The bongo ( Tragelaphus eurycerus )

4248-425: The relentless expansion of human settlement. Its long-term survival will only be assured in areas which receive active protection and management. At present, such areas comprise about 30,000 km , and several are in countries where political stability is fragile. So, a realistic possibility exists whereby its status could decline to Threatened in the near future. As the largest and most spectacular forest antelope,

4320-471: The severe threats posed by over a century of hunting and poaching, which has drastically reduced their numbers to about 13,000, mostly in South Africa. Wild-caught southern white rhinoceros will readily breed in captivity when given appropriate living space, veterinary care, food, and water, as well as the presence of multiple female rhinos of breeding age; many white rhinoceroses seen in zoos today are

4392-592: The shoulder to the rump; the white stripes run into this ridge. A white chevron appears between the eyes, with two large white spots on each cheek. Another white chevron occurs where the neck meets the chest. Bongos have no special secretion glands, so rely likely less on scent to find one another than do other similar antelopes. The lips of a bongo are white, topped with a black muzzle. Bongos have two heavy and slightly spiralled horns that slope over their backs. Bongo males have larger backswept horns, while females have smaller, thinner, and more parallel horns. The size of

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4464-496: The situation in the wild has been less promising. Evidence exists of bongo surviving in Kenya. However, these populations are believed to be small, fragmented, and vulnerable to extinction. Animal populations with impoverished genetic diversity are inherently less able to adapt to changes in their environments (such as climate change, disease outbreaks, habitat change, etc.). The isolation of the four remaining small bongo populations, which themselves would appear to be in decline, means

4536-407: The species during the 1890s. Tragelaphus eurycerus may suffer from goitre . Over the course of the disease, the thyroid glands greatly enlarge (up to 10 x 20 cm) and may become polycystic . Pathogenesis of goiter in the bongo may reflect a mixture of genetic predisposition coupled with environmental factors, including a period of exposure to a goitrogen . Leopards and spotted hyenas are

4608-833: The species' recovery by providing incentives for landowners to boost rhino populations. The subspecies is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning international import/export (including in parts/derivatives) is regulated by the CITES permit system. Populations of South Africa, Eswatini and Namibia are listed in CITES Appendix II with strict conditions while all other populations are listed in CITES Appendix I. There are small, reintroduced populations within

4680-414: The western/lowland bongo is both an important flagship species for protected areas such as national parks, and a major trophy species which has been taken in increasing numbers in Central Africa by sport hunters during the 1990s. Both of these factors are strong incentives to provide effective protection and management of populations. Trophy hunting has the potential to provide economic justification for

4752-529: The world. The western or lowland bongo , T. e. eurycerus , faces an ongoing population decline, and the IUCN Antelope Specialist Group considers it to be Near Threatened on the conservation status scale. The eastern or mountain bongo , T. e. isaaci , of Kenya , has a coat even more vibrant than that of T. e. eurycerus . The mountain bongo is only found in the wild in a few mountain regions of central Kenya. This bongo

4824-408: The year. However, in 2013, it seems, these successes have been compromised by reports of possibly only 100 mountain bongos left in the wild due to logging and poaching . Giant eland Common eland Greater kudu Balbok Bongo Sitatunga Cape bushbuck Harnessed bushbuck Nyala Lesser kudu The scientific name of the bongo is Tragelaphus eurycerus , and it belongs to

4896-508: The zoo's kangaroos and emus. Inside the kangaroo walkabout, there are several solar panel "trees" that were donated to the zoo by Florida Power & Light . The solar panels provide shade for the kangaroos, but their most important function is that they provide all the energy for the Komodo dragon house, where the Komodo dragons are located. Siamangs , a type of gibbon , are located in-between

4968-458: Was a building focused specifically towards younger children and features terrariums containing many of the zoo's reptiles , amphibians , arthropods , and a few mammals including chinchillas and flying squirrels. It also featured interactive activities, such as a sand pit, where children could dig up bones from an animal "crime scene", and an animal hospital where children could learn about animal anatomy and veterinary science. The WDTA also featured

5040-515: Was nearly extinct near the end of the 19th century having been reduced to a population of approximately 20–50 animals in KwaZulu-Natal due to sport hunting and land clearance. Numbers increased rapidly from 1992 to 2010, due to intensive protection and translocation efforts, however population growth then slowed as poaching increased, with numbers declining from 2012 to 2017. An approximate 15% decline in estimated numbers between 2012 and 2017

5112-419: Was primarily due to reductions in populations within South Africa's Kruger National Park . Poaching rates peaked in 2014 and as of December 2017, there were an estimated 18,064 southern white rhino in the wild with populations being assessed as Near Threatened since 2002. White rhino trophy hunting was legalized and regulated in 1968, and after initial miscalculations is now generally seen to have assisted in

5184-466: Was proposed as a different subspecies (or species) found near Lake Ngami and north of the Kalahari Desert . However, it is now considered part of the southern white rhinoceros and ranges throughout southern Africa. Following the phylogenetic species concept , research in 2010 suggested the southern and northern white rhinoceros may be different species, rather than subspecies, in which case

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