The Sacred Bongo Trivia Quiz

Answer: Eastern and western

There are two subspecies of bongo, these are the eastern or mountain bongo, and the western or lowland bongo. There is no such thing as the southern or northern bongo.

Answer: Herbivorous

Like most hoofed mammals, the bongo is a herbivore, which means it eats plant matter.

Answer: Grazing and browsing

The bongo can be seen grazing and browsing, depending the area they are in at the time. Grazing means eating grass and other low plants, while browsing means eating leaves, shoots and fruits from shrubs and bushes.

Answer: Antelope

The bongo is an antelope, like the oryx, gemsbok, duiker, gazelle, wildebeest and more, which are all in the Bovidae family, like cattle.

Answer: They don't

Like all antelopes, bongos do not shed their horns, although deer do shed their antlers.

Answer: Yes

Like most antelope, both sexes of bongo have horns. Although the male's horns are slightly larger than the females, there is not as much difference in bongos as compared to other antelope species.

Answer: Critically endangered

The western bongo is rated as near threatened, while the much rarer eastern bongo is rated as critically endangered.

Answer: Ruddy red-brown body with white-beige stripes

Both subspecies of bongos are a lovely ruddy red-brownish colour with thin white-beige stripes. There are some black and white areas around the mouth and legs to help them with camouflage.

Answer: Kenya and West Africa

Both subspecies of bongo live in Africa, but they had much wider ranges until their habitats were destroyed by logging and they were being hunted by poachers. Now the eastern bongo is isolated to some small parts of Kenya and the western bongo inhabits a few small countries of West Africa.

Answer: Tropical jungles with dense undergrowth

Bongos inhabit dense tropical jungles where they can camouflage into their surroundings, although they will sometimes venture out onto the plains to graze. Bamboo forests can also provide a habitat for bongos.