Farewell to Bowie, the UK’s oldest male bongo

We are sad to announce that Bowie, our beloved male eastern bongo, was humanely put to sleep this morning, Thursday 7 August 2025.

Bowie had been experiencing unexplained weight loss due to a number of dental issues that were discovered under veterinary investigation. This prevented him from ruminating properly, which this species needs to do in order to absorb enough nutrition. After careful consideration, our veterinary and animal care teams made the compassionate decision to euthanise Bowie.

Born on 16 March 2013 at Gdanski Ogród Zoo in Poland, Bowie later moved to Woburn Safari before joining us at Paignton Zoo in June 2024 as part of the European breeding programme. At 12 and a half years old, he was the oldest male bongo in the UK and second oldest in Europe.

Despite being with us for just over a year, Bowie quickly became known as a gentle giant who was much loved by all his keepers.

Bowie was a magnificent ambassador for his species and will be deeply missed. Eastern bongos are critically endangered, with fewer than 100 individuals remaining in their native Kenyan forests, making zoo breeding programmes vital for the species’ survival.

When the time is appropriate, we hope to introduce another male bongo to join our females, Koffi and Ada, as part of this crucial conservation effort.

We thank everyone for their understanding during this difficult time.