Historic Breakthrough: Endangered Eastern Bongo Born from Eland Surrogate in Texas

In an extraordinary milestone for global wildlife conservation, veterinarians and reproductive specialists in Texas have achieved what was once thought impossible—a healthy Eastern Bongo calf has been born from an Eland surrogate, marking the first successful interspecies embryo transfer of its kind since the early 1980s.

The achievement was recently celebrated and announced by Exotic Wildlife Veterinary Services and Infinity Exotics, with Human Swart sharing the milestone with the Lone Star Exotic Breeding community. The healthy male calf, “Pope,” was named in honor of Dr. Earle Pope, the pioneering researcher who first achieved an interspecies embryo transfer between a Bongo and Eland in 1983, represents both a full-circle moment and a leap forward in the use of advanced reproductive technologies for endangered species.

Why This Birth Matters

According to PR Newswire (“Historic Breakthrough in Veterinary Science—Birth of Endangered Bongo Antelope from Eland Surrogate Signals New Era for Wildlife Conservation,” 2025), fewer than 100 Eastern Bongos remain in the wild. Habitat loss, poaching, and human encroachment have pushed the species to the brink of extinction.

Advanced reproductive technologies—once reserved primarily for domestic animals—are now offering unprecedented possibilities for restoring wildlife populations.

“This calf represents decades of research and determination. It validates the belief that we can use modern veterinary science not only to treat animals, but to fundamentally change their conservation outlook. What we’ve learned here could be applied to countless species facing similar genetic and reproductive challenges.” —Dr. Will Weise, Veterinarian on the project

The Breakthrough

Together, the team transferred a Bongo embryo into a healthy Eland cow, selecting the species for its comparable gestation and suitability as a surrogate. After months of monitoring, the Eland safely delivered an Eastern Bongo calf—an event that has not been recorded with this level of success in over four decades.

“This is a pivotal moment in safeguarding the future of the Bongo antelope and other endangered species. This breakthrough demonstrates that assisted reproductive technologies, once limited to agricultural or laboratory settings, can now be effectively adapted to save species at the edge of extinction.” – Dr. Brittni East, Veterinarian and Founder of Exotic Wildlife Veterinary Services

Meet Pope

Pope’s arrival matters in a big way. His small size does not limit the hope he brings for his species. His birth also shows that teamwork and innovation can change the future. This moment proves what happens when passion and science unite. The process was complex, but the outcome gives Eastern Bongos new hope.

A New Path Forward for Endangered Species

This breakthrough opens the door for similar reproductive strategies to be used across a variety of threatened animal populations. For species with low numbers in captivity or the wild, advanced reproductive options may be one of the only viable paths to survival.

The teams at Exotic Wildlife Veterinary Services and Infinity Exotics plan to continue developing and refining these conservation-driven reproductive technologies, offering hope where little existed before.

Their work serves as a reminder of what’s possible when science is used not only to understand the natural world—but to help protect it.

Credit & Sources

Primary Announcement:
Exotic Wildlife Veterinary Services & Infinity Exotics

Press Release Source:
“Historic Breakthrough in Veterinary Science: Birth of Endangered Bongo Antelope from Eland Surrogate Signals New Era for Wildlife Conservation”
PR Newswire, 2025.