Conservation Trust to help Meru Bongo re-aclimitize to Mt Kenya forest

In a combined effort towards enhancing conservation whilst boosting mountain tourism, Meru county departments of Environment and Tourism today held a seminar on Meru bongo and Black rhino conservation.

The engagement that brought together various stakeholders, including KWS, KFS and the Lewa Conservation saw Community Forest Associations(CFAs) trained on what to expect, as the county plans to welcome a Meru Bongo from a San Francisco-based conservatory.

Bongo and Black rhino populations globally have been dwindling towards extension. It was on this ground that The Mt Kenya Bongo and Rhino Conservation Trust was set up.

While addressing the media during the forum, Tourism CEC Maingi Mugambi said, “From a tourism standpoint, the county has set up the bongo and rhino trust as a way of raising mountain tourism in Kenya. Kenya is renown for its beaches and safari, but with the re-introduction of the Meru Bongo and Black rhino, we hope to boost tourism to Meru.”

The engagement will see CFAs and other stakeholders educated on the mountain bongo and what to expect in preparation.

The environmental conservation CEC echoed this by adding, “The Bongo trust will play a major role in boosting conservation efforts around Mount Kenya. As a department, we have made tremendous strides towards raising our forest cover and we hope, through this training, to foster a closer working relationship with the Community Forest Associations(CFAs) as we welcome back the Mountain Bongo.”