Community Corner

Bongo Calves Born at Minnesota Zoo

Tuesday, the Minnesota Zoo announced the arrival of two baby Bongos, a type of antelope native to the lowland rain forests of Africa.

Say hello to the newest denizens of the Minnesota Zoo: Two new Bongo calves born this June, just in time for the zoo's new exhibit, Africa! 

The Bongo is a large antelope found in a band stretching from West Africa to Southern Sudan. A male calf was born on June 6. A female followed on June 16. The zoo announced their birth this Tuesday.

According to officials at the zoo, the two baby Bongos are healthy and hardy. Both stood within minutes of birth. 

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They are just beginning to make their public debut.

The two will make a fascinating addition to Africa! Experts say that Bongo females are known for their unusually strong mothering instinct. Bongo moms are known to "keep their young hidden in tall grasses while allowing them to have 'babysitters'" while they forage in their native environment, the lowland rain forests of Africa. They have also been known to teach their calves to swim.

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Residents can see the Bongo babes at the Africa! exhibit, which will run through Sept. 2. The exhibit also includes giraffes, ostriches, and wildebeest, among others.


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