Welcome, little one!

In another win for a critically endangered species, our female Eastern bongo Clover gave birth to another calf on August 25! The calf is male and weighs 48 pounds. A check-up by our veterinary team found the calf to be healthy.

This is Clover and Sebastian’s third calf at our Zoo. The new calf joins big sisters 1-year-old Ginger and 10-month-old Sugar.

The calf sports a red coloring, just like his mom and sisters, for now. Male bongos usually darken to a brown hue. Both Eastern bongo sexes have horns, although it’ll take some time for the calf to start growing horns.

Eastern bongos are critically endangered due to habitat loss and poaching in their native range. While every animal birth is special, this birth was particularly important because of the status of this species.

Clover and Sebastian were matched by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, a program that pairs animals within AZA-accredited zoos to ensure healthy, genetically diverse populations.

The Zoo’s Eastern bongos, along with other animal residents like our scimitar oryx and Ankole-Watusi cattle are visible from our Cape to Cairo Express train, which takes guests through their habitat.

All our bongos, including Clover and the new calf, can potentially be seen from the train. You may need to be particularly observant when looking for the new calf, however! Bongo moms tend to hide their babies in thick bushes for periods of time to protect them from potential predators.

We’ll share more updates on this newbie soon!

Brevard Zoo is an independent, not-for-profit organization that receives no recurring government funding for our operating costs. Your generous support enables us to continue to serve our community and continue our vital animal wellness, education and conservation programs.