Bongo

forest animals · African wildlife · nocturnal

Gorgeous striped coat. Bongos are famous for their reddish-brown fur covered with white-yellow stripes, plus bold black and white markings. These bright colors might seem flashy, but they actually help bongos blend into the dappled shadows of their forest home.

Night-time wanderers. Bongos are mostly nocturnal, meaning they search for food and move around at night when it's cooler and safer from danger. During the day, they rest hidden in the thick African forests.

Forest giants. Bongos are the third-largest antelope in the world, with long, slightly spiralled horns that curve backward. These impressive horns help them navigate through dense trees and plants.

Complex social lives. Bongos have interesting ways of interacting with each other in their forest communities. Scientists have noticed they communicate and behave in surprisingly complex patterns.

Picky about homes. Bongos live only in the dense forest mosaics of sub-Saharan Africa, where they need thick vegetation and specific forest types to survive.