The Aberdare ecosystem is rich in nature’s wonders as demonstrated by this female cape buffalo with extraordinarily long, drooping horns. Scientists attribute this to a rare generic mutation that affects horn growth, mainly in females. The Aberdares has a buffalo population numbering in the thousands, but this is only our second sighting in the last couple of years. The unusual sight was captured by a trap camera in the central Aberdares.

Female cape buffalo

Trap cameras are specialized digital cameras that are automatically triggered by nearby movement. The Bongo Surveillance Programme (BSP) is a Rhino Ark-supported initiative that has set up cameras at selected locations in the Aberdare ecosystem. The cameras photograph anything that crosses their path, day or night, but their main aim is to capture evidence of the elusive and highly endangered mountain bongo antelope. The BSP supports conservation of mountain bongo in the Aberdares ecosystem. A trap camera in the densely forested Salient area of the eastern Aberdares recently captured a rare image of a small herd of bongo.

Mountain Bongo at salt lick