Virginia Zoo: 'We have become bongo heaven'

NORFOLK

The Virginia Zoo welcomed two baby bongos born over the weekend.

Bella was born Sunday and Jasper arrived Friday. They join their half sister Eva, who was born Sept. 23.

Eastern bongos, a type of antelope, are native to Africa and are highly endangered. Although bongos are reclusive by nature, zoo officials said their bongos are calm and friendly.

The calves were born to the zoo's three females. They're all the offspring of papa Thunder, who was brought to the zoo last year to breed.

"He exceeded our expectations this year," said Greg Bockheim, zoo executive director. "We have become bongo heaven."

The calves have large ears, striking striped chestnut and white coats and playful attitudes.

The zoo has raised four previous bongo calves. One of them, a male, was flown to Africa in 2004 as part of the Bongo Repatriation to Mount Kenya Project.