Entire herds of hippos have fallen victim to the enormous drought in Botswana, because they became stuck in the mud of dried up lakes. Local nature conservation authorities reported this to the French news agency AFP. They are still trying to count the losses.
“The river systems are drying up and the animals are in danger,” said Lesego Moseki, spokesperson for the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) in Gaborone. “The hippopotamus in Ngamiland is dependent on water from the Okavango Delta. The number of animals that succumbed is not yet clear.”
Southern Africa has been hit by a severe drought that has also severely affected harvests. As a result, millions of people go hungry. Several countries in the region have recently declared a state of emergency. According to experts, the drought is mainly due to El Niño. This phenomenon causes an increase in the temperature on earth.
In northern Botswana, the drying up of the Thamalakane River has forced herds of hippos to migrate to natural water reserves near the tourist town of Maun. From there, most tourists go on safari in the country’s large game parks.
Aggressive
Although hippos have thick skin, it is also sensitive. Therefore, they should take a bath regularly to avoid sunburn. They usually live in moist areas. When there is a lack of water, they can become aggressive and approach villages. Local authorities are demanding that the hippos be returned to the reserves to avoid conflict with humans.
Botswana is home to one of the world’s largest populations of hippos living in the wild. Their numbers are estimated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature at two thousand to four thousand. The species is threatened with extinction.
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Tags: Stuck mud hippos risk dying due massive drought Botswana
