To date, since the arrival of the American Bongo the entire herd here at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy has grown by an impressive 14 successful births.
The total number of Mountain bongo in the Conservancy's herd now stands at 38 animals.
Round the clock supervision of our "American" bongo continues. New arrivals in this herd are: Ajabu (miracle) now a 1 year old female, and Johari (Jewel) another female calf born August 2006.
A "bachelor herd of males has now been in our most wild mountain forest area for some time. Here they encounter the types of vegetation growing all over their former natural range on Mount Kenya. Other forest animals such as Leopard, Buffalo and Elephant frequently visit. The group, although monitored is left to mostly care for themselves and rarely see a human being. They have access to a fresh mountain stream and plenty of natural browse and thickets in which to hide. All are doing extremely well.
Sad News:
We are greatly saddened over the sudden death of our own
Dr. Thomas Timothy Dolan
Tom led our veterinary team for many years.
Born in Ireland in 1943, Tom graduated from the University College in Dublin first and later from the University of Edinburgh where he earned the following impressive array of degrees: MVB, PhD, DTVM, MRCVS. His professional career took him from his private large animal veterinary practice in Ireland to Australia, the U.K. and finally to Kenya.
In Kenya Dr. Dolan held a number of prestigious positions with UNDP/FAO, KARI, ILRAD and ILRI, where he did important ground breaking livestock research into complex East African diseases, while he also helped in the management of these Institutions and their ranches.
During this time Dr. Dolan also became an important consultant to many national and International organizations. For the last ten years Dr. Dolan also acted as technical Director and Chairman to Analabs Ltd. A private animal disease diagnostic and food and hygiene laboratory serving the livestock and food industries in Kenya and beyond.
Dr Dolan was a renowned world authority on endemic livestock diseases of East Africa. For our own Bongo breeding and rehabilitation program he volunteered and sacrificed many hours and days of research and practical advice. He was instrumental in overcoming the complex veterinary problem that faced the returning U.S. bred animals. Without Dr. Dolan's valuable work this project would not have been possible.
We remember Tom as a wonderful friend. His never tiring positive attitude and help beyond all duty was legendary.
Tom leaves behind his wife Rosemary, their Children and Grand Children. Rosemary, herself an accomplished scientist, worked side by side with Tom on may projects. She continues with offers of help into research to assist the Bongo project for which we are grateful.
Tom shall be greatly missed by many.
Don and Iris Hunt,
Julian McKeand
Together with the Wildlife Conservancy Team
Any help is greatly appreciated. All together and with your help Mount Kenya will once again be populated by the magnificent Mountain Bongo Antelope in the hopes that this time, it will be forever.
Read more about this and other ongoing projects on our pages...
