27 apr 2024 om 00:45 Update: 55 min. geleden
Herds of hippos are stuck in the mud in Botswana. Many lakes have dried up due to extreme drought. The endangered species needs water to prevent burning, overheating and dehydration. The authorities fear high mortality among the herds.
It is estimated that between two thousand and four thousand hippos live in Botswana. This means that the country has one of the largest populations of hippos in the world.
These animals are now at great risk, as Botswana has been experiencing a serious water shortage since last October. As a result, the river catchment area has shrunk considerably and river deltas have dried up, the news agency reports AFP.
The hippos are therefore dependent on increasingly smaller pools of water. In many cases there is nothing left but a mud bath, which can cause serious burns and death to the animals. Animal rights activists fear that the hippos are now looking for water in inhabited areas. No precipitation is expected in Botswana for the time being.
Countries such as Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe are also suffering from drought. In many areas, crops have failed and livestock have been killed.
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