Changes in Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections in the Mountain Bongo Following Reintroduction to Kenya

ABSTRACT This study assessed gastrointestinal parasites in critically endangered mountain bongos ( Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci ) before and three months after their reintroduction to Kenya from the United States. High Eimeria spp. prevalence was detected on arrival (86.67%) and post‐release (75%). After three months, local helminths such as Strongyle and Moniezia spp. rapidly colonised. The median eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) for Eimeria spp. rose from 50 before release to 225 three months post‐release, though sample sizes limited reliable statistical analysis. These results emphasise risks of reintroducing captive‐bred ungulates and the need for baseline parasitological monitoring during wildlife translocations.