Bongos, Birds and Brilliant Ant-ics: Dublin Zoo Welcomes Flurry of New Arrivals

The team has welcomed a male eastern bongo from Slovakia, a species easily recognised by their chestnut coats, white stripes and impressive spiralled horns. They are also critically endangered, making their arrival a particularly important conservation milestone. Native to the forests of Kenya, eastern bongos are facing serious threats in the wild, including habitat loss and hunting.

Joining the line-up are red-necked ostriches, who arrived from France and are also settling in well. These remarkable birds are the largest living birds in the world and are known for their long legs, powerful running ability and unmistakable appearance. The red-necked ostrich is critically endangered, with wild populations under pressure due to habitat loss, hunting and egg collection.

Over in the Rainforest House, visitors can now meet a pair of great curassows, one male and one female, who arrived from Spain. These vulnerable birds are native to Central and South America and are known for their glossy feathers and distinctive curled crests. They are sharing their new home with Dublin Zoo’s howler monkeys, making for a lively neighbourhood with plenty of character.

Also making themselves at home in the Rainforest House are approximately 15,000 hairy-headed leafcutter ants. The colony arrived in April and can now be seen travelling through clear plastic tubes in the habitat. These tiny but mighty insects are among the rainforest’s busiest workers, cutting and carrying pieces of leaves back to their colony. Despite their size, leafcutter ants play an important role in their ecosystem, proving that teamwork really does make the dream work.

Helen Clarke, Team Leader at Dublin Zoo, said: “It’s been a really exciting few months for the team, with several new arrivals settling in across Dublin Zoo. We’re delighted to welcome our newcomers, as every new arrival gives us an important opportunity to help visitors learn more about these incredible animals and the challenges they face in the wild.”