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John Ball Zoo introduces baby Mountain Bongo

Posted at 2:46 PM, Sep 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-02 14:46:56-04
Photo provided by John Ball Zoo

Photo provided by John Ball Zoo

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — John Ball Zoo on Friday announced the birth of a baby female Mountain Bongo.

Uzuri was born Aug. 25 and is the zoo’s second baby bongo in two years.

“This subspecies of bongo is critically endangered so a new addition is beneficial to their future both in the wild and in zoos,” said John Ball Zoo CEO Peter D’Arienzo in a release.

Uzuri weighed in at 29.7 pounds.  Her brother, Neo, was born by the same parents in December 2014.

“The Mountain bongo exists only in remote protected forests of central Kenya.  The wild population is estimated at less than 250 individuals,” a release from the zoo says.