The bongo, a striking coppery red animal with white stripes, is shy and elusive. Most active at dusk and dawn, they will emerge at night to visit salt licks. There appears to be a female hierarchy in a herd. Female social grooming also indicates that females may stay together for long periods of time and establish a rank order.  At Fossil Rim, as well as in the wild, a female leads the group, in single file, to water or food and will return in the same way.

Poaching, illegal trapping for food and skins, and habitat destruction have resulted in the decline of bongo populations.  Hunting with dogs and snares has also impacted this species.
 
Fortunately, there have been concerted conservation efforts over the last few decades to help protect the bongo.  A robust captive population and full protection under the Kenyan Wildlife Service have helped to increase bongo numbers in the wild.  Captive individuals from America have been used in the Bongo Repatriation Program.  In January of 2004, the first captive bongos were moved to the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy.