The Bongo (Taurutragus curycerus) 983 
S 
Behavior and Life History Notes 
The Bongo is one of Africa’s most elusive animaJs and depends on its 
cars more than its cyes or scnse of smell] in detecting danger. Bongos 
appear to be diurnal depending on weather and local conditions. Ion1pEs 
(1956) says: »The white stripes on the dark background make these animals 
definitely conspicuous in the forest, and their stripes can be seen in bamboo 
before the actual shape of the animal is visible«. 
Its haunts are shared by the forest hog and the Jeopard and its young 
are preyed upon by the leopard (RoosEvELT & HELLER 1914). VERsCHUREN 
(letter, 1959) says he »found a young bongo in a 3.25m python«. Du 
CHAILLU (1861) says: »It is very shy, swift of foot, and exceedingly graceful 
in its motions«. Old bulls are usually solitary, but younger males, cows 
and calves associate in small herds. Root (letter, 1959a) reports a herd 
of 20 bongos feeding on »Myandarawa«, a peak in the Aberdare Range, 
at an elevation of about 10,500 feet. . 
Percivau (1924) speaking of the isaaci race says: spice the dry 
season it haunts the higher levels of the wooded mountains and frequently 
visits the bamboo jungles; in the rains, it comes lower down«. He also 
says bongos, »unlike most other antelopes, are fond of wallowing in the 
mud puddles often found near the salt-licks. Having coated themselves 
with mud they copy the elephant, seeking a favorite tree against which 
to rub it off; at the same time they polish their horns.« The same author 
says: »Thcir droppings are distinctive, similar to those of cattle, but 
smaller.« However, the droppings of the captive animal at the Cleveland 
Zoo are variable depending on diet, temperature, time of estrous cycle, 
and possible other factors. Sometimes they are pelleted Jike those of other 
antelopes and deer and sometimes they are more typical of domestic cattle. 
LYDEKKER (1908) says: »As for voice, bongo do not bark like bushbuck 
and kudu, but occasionally make a noise like eland«. The captive individual 
at Cleveland has repeatedly been heard to give a bleat very much like 
that of a domestic calf. This call is frequently given in BAC ee to her 
keepers. . 
PrercivaL (1924) says: saa thax trait is their disinclination to take 
the smallest of jumps. Let a fallen log bar the way, and they will go round 
if they can, or creep under, and they will creep where one might suppose 
it would be vastly less exertion to jump.« The captive female at Cleveland 
has been known to easily jump over a ae 43 inches high when she desired 
to enter her shelter. - | 
FRANK Finn (1923) says, »The cows are said to have several young 
ata birth, a very unusual peculiarity in wild ungulates«. In the only re- 
corded captive birth (Table I), only one young was born. BROCKLEHURS 
(1931) says: »The cows generally drop their calves about December and 
January, and I think that the bulls only run with the herds during the 
mating season¢«. Roor (letter, 1959b) had a female bongo that was born 
the second week of August 1959. Of the 9 captive bongos recorded in 
