ZooTampa welcomed an Eastern Bongo calf. There are fewer than 100 Eastern Bongos left in the wild.
TAMPA, Fla. — It’s a girl! ZooTampa at Lowry Park is celebrating a special birth. A critically endangered Eastern Bongo calf was born on Jan. 9.
The female calf weighed 38 pounds at birth, and she stands two feet tall. This is the fourth Eastern bongo born at ZooTampa since 2021. Her mother, 4-year-old Binti, was born at ZooTampa in May 2021. Her father, 6-year-old Marvin, arrived from Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in 2023. They were paired as part of the Eastern Bongo Species Survival Plan (SSP). This is Marvin’s second calf born at ZooTampa.
The zoo’s herd now includes eight Eastern Bongos: males Marvin and Mac, and females Blitzen, Lottie, Binti, Millie, Mira, and the new calf. She doesn’t have a name yet.
“We’re thrilled to welcome another healthy bongo calf into our herd,” Chris Massaro, the zoo’s senior VP and chief zoological officer, said. “I’m incredibly proud of our animal care team and the exceptional care they provide to all of our animals every single day.”
According to ZooTampa, there are fewer than 100 Eastern Bongos left in the wild. Native to Africa, they typically weigh between 525 and 800 pounds.
