Baby Mahdi, January
	Louisville Zoo Assistant Mammal Curator Candy McMahan holds the bongo baby
	Baby Mahdi with Mom Kaya.  (January 8, 2008)
	All photos by Kara Bussabarger.

Louisville Zoo bongo baby welcomes in the New Year

(EDITORS ADVISORY:  More photos are available upon request.  Please call prior to insure baby and Mom are out and able to be viewed.)

 Louisville Zoo staff received a special New Year’s gift on Jan. 6 when bongo Kaya gave birth to her second calf.

“This is a special birth, because it is the first offspring for Forest, our male bongo,” said Louisville Zoo Assistant Mammal Curator Candy McMahan. “Forest was born here at the Zoo, and it means so much to see an animal you raised grow up and become a father.”

The bongo calf was named Mahdi (pronounced Maw-Dee) by the staff. It is of African origin and means “expected one.” Mahdi’s birth was planned and is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). These plans work to improve the genetic diversity of managed animal populations. Through the efforts of zoos in North America, a reintroduction of bongos to the population in Kenya is being developed. (For more information on SSPs, visit http://www.aza.org/ConScience/ConScienceSSPFact/.)

There are currently five bongos at the Louisville Zoo—four females and one male. The last bongo birth was last year—Jan. 11, 2007—when female Nailah was born to Kaya.

Mahdi currently weighs 42 pounds and is being introduced to the rest of the herd. She and mom will be on exhibit daily depending on weather and other circumstances.

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Bongos are the largest of the forest antelopes, and are considered by many to be the most beautiful. In addition to the deep chestnut color of their coats, bongos have bright white stripes on their sides to help camouflage them from their enemies.

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The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).