October 27, 1969 
Mr. A. D. Parkinson x : : 
Mr. John Seago iy 
c/o Barclay's Bank UZ 
Box 30011 
Nairobi, Kenya 
Dear John, Tony, Thelma, Winniki, all of those in camp, and all 
of the bongo in East Africa: 
This is a reply to Tony's jetter of October 21 and John's letter 
of October 22. oie Uae vee on suspecting that I had been out 
oftown when you most welcomed cable had not been answered. We 
are, of course, overjoyed from your very descriptive letters. 
About the last half of September must have been exciting with two 
bongos being caught in two separate traps three days apart. I 
did not realize that you had built a trap where Nelson had put 
the camera. My goodness, what a haul that must be up and the 
question is how will you get them down? 
I am glad to hear that the leg of the female is getting better. 
I am sure that of this moment you are training her to come down, 
What is the situation on the first male? 
I would like very much to come out and come down with the bongo. 
The question, of course, is time. It is now just about the last 
Of October. John Perry, the Assistant Director, leaves for India 
to attend the IUCN meeting on the 15th of November and will be 
gone for about five weeks. That means that I should not leave 
until about the middle of December, although I suspect I could 
get away the early part of December but this leaves you with 
bongos and if the animals are ready to come down, for goodness 
sake, do not wait on me for the bongos are more important than 
any part of the story. If the National Geographic wants pictures 
they can send a photographer. | 
Another thing that complicates my life very much is the possibility 
that Don Bridgwater who is our curator, will be accepting the 
position of director of the Oklahoma City Zoo. (Maybe you can sell 
him a bomgo). This will stir up my staff a great deal. 
