KLM Flies Endangered Mountain Bongos Back to Kenya in Historic Conservation Mission

By Catherine Muema On May 21, 2026

(L–R), Air France–KLM Martinair Cargo Regional Director for East & Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, Pier Luigi Vigada, with Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, H.E. Musalia Mudavadi, during the arrival reception marking the successful landing of the KLM-operated conservation charter flight carrying four critically endangered mountain bongos in Kenya, reinforcing ongoing efforts to support species rewilding and biodiversity restoration.

A major milestone has been achieved in Kenya’s wildlife conservation efforts after KLM Royal Dutch Airlines successfully transported four critically endangered mountain bongos from the Czech Republic to Kenya in a landmark mission aimed at restoring the species’ dwindling population in the wild.

The carefully coordinated translocation, dubbed “Return of the Bongos to Kenya,” marks the first structured return of mountain bongos from European zoological populations to Kenya as part of a long-term rewilding programme.

The mountain bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci), one of Africa’s rarest antelope species, is currently listed as critically endangered, with conservation estimates indicating that only about 66 individuals remain in the wild as of 2025, a sharp decline from approximately 150 recorded in 2021. Conservationists attribute the drastic population loss to decades of habitat destruction, poaching and human encroachment on forest ecosystems.

The four male bongos, bred in European zoos under internationally coordinated conservation programmes, were flown from the Czech Republic to Kenya aboard a specially arranged KLM conservation charter flight. Each animal travelled in a custom-designed transport stall under continuous veterinary supervision to ensure its safety and welfare throughout the journey.

Upon arrival in Kenya, the bongos were transferred to the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC), which is spearheading an ambitious restoration programme targeting a population of 750 fully rewilded mountain bongos by the year 2050.

The operation was undertaken through close collaboration between the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, and international conservation bodies including the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). Conservation experts selected the animals based on their genetic value, health status and suitability for rewilding after years of coordinated breeding management in Europe.

Wildlife conservationists have described the initiative as a critical breakthrough in efforts to reverse the species’ decline and strengthen the genetic diversity of Kenya’s remaining mountain bongo population.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines facilitated the specialist airlift as part of its broader commitment to global biodiversity conservation. The airline noted that the mission required meticulous logistical planning, including navigating geopolitical complexities, ensuring regulatory compliance and maintaining strict animal welfare standards throughout the operation.

The initiative was further supported by Air France–KLM Martinair Cargo, the cargo division of the Air France–KLM Group, which operates across 295 destinations in 110 countries worldwide.

Speaking after the successful transfer, Pier Luigi Vigada, Regional Director for East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean at Air France–KLM Martinair Cargo, said the mission demonstrated the power of partnerships between the aviation and conservation sectors.

“This operation demonstrates what is possible when aviation and conservation work hand in hand. We are proud to support a mission that contributes directly to the survival of one of Africa’s most iconic and endangered species,” he said.

KLM has previously participated in similar wildlife conservation logistics missions across Africa. In 2024, the airline facilitated the relocation of two lions and four servals from France to South Africa after the animals were rescued from circuses and wildlife trafficking networks.

Air France-KLM General Manager for East and Southern Africa, Nigeria and Ghana, Joris Holtus, said the airline group remains committed to supporting initiatives that create meaningful global impact beyond commercial aviation.

“As an airline group, we are vividly aware of the greater purpose that global connectivity serves. That’s why, whenever we receive a call to support conservation initiatives like the transfer of the mountain bongos and lions, we do respond without hesitation,” said Holtus.