Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell
credit – Woburn Safari Park

 

Today’s good news comes from the Good News Network.

Britain Celebrates Birth of Baby Bongo Antelope–with Fewer Than 100 Left on Earth

By

Andy Corbley –

 

In an English safari park, keepers celebrate the arrival of a calf from the world’s most endangered antelope species, the eastern mountain bongo.

Born October 16th, first-time mom Othaya welcomed a male calf in the late afternoon. This was the first bongo calf born at Woburn Safari Park in over 10 years.

The calf’s father, Sonny – credit, Woburn Safari Park

It’s both a significant success for the park and global conservation efforts to save this species native to Kenya.

“Othaya the bongo has successfully given birth to her first calf on Wednesday afternoon. After a long labor, the large healthy male calf was born and was soon seen standing on wobbly legs in the deep bed of straw prepared for his arrival,” stated Tom Robson, Head of Reserves at the park. “Both mom and calf are doing really well.”

Sonny, the calf’s father, joined the four-strong bongo herd at the park last November and successfully mixed with the females. He wasted no time in doing his job and displayed breeding behaviors.

“The bongo is part of a crucial breeding program and we are hoping in the future our new calf will travel to another wildlife collection and start a breeding group of his own,” Robson added.

Once the mom and baby are ready, they will rejoin the rest of the bongo herd in the African Forest exhibit, where visitors will soon have the chance to see the calf in person.

The eastern mountain bongo species has been hunted almost to extinction in the wild, and with less than 100 individuals remaining, this birth is hugely important for the species’ future.

The lowland bongo, its near-cousin, is readily dispersed across the Congo region and southern West Africa and is not endangered. The mountain bongo, with its much deeper red coat, is found only on Mount Kenya.

It has been estimated that the eastern mountain bongo may go extinct within 2 decades without appropriate protections. However, several Critically Endangered species, like the West African lion, have recovered on the continent in recent years.

WATCH the story below from Africa News… 

The good news in this story is the possible comeback of a species. Today’s JohnKu celebrates this accomplishment. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Comeback by John W. Howell © 2024

A turnaround is,

Always the miraculous. . .

Especially now.

 

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Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

79 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News”

  5. Your Good News Network posts are nourishing. And the last line of your JohnKu is spot on. Especially in a difficult week. Thanks for passing along the good stuff that’s happening, my friend. 🌞

    Liked by 2 people

  25. Woburn Safari Park is pretty famous here in England for its conservation and breeding programs of various species…
    This is a lovely new addition to the park… Thank you for sharing… It really is GOOD news.. ❤

    Liked by 3 people

  27. Yes, the turn around is miraculous, as the JohnKu says.

    Still, there are those who would Hunt species to extinction. Can they be educated to have respect?

    A wonderful good feeling story. Than you John!

    Liked by 2 people

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