KATIMA MULILO – The ministry of environment has put down a hippo which caused havoc among the community of Musanga near Katima Mulilo.
The control warden in the ministry of environment in Zambezi region, Leeverty Muyoba, confirmed the incident yesterday. He said the ministry received a call from the affected
villagers about a hippo which has been terrorising the area in recent days.
Musanga area is directly linked to the Zambezi river, where some families who were being terrorised have lived for decades.
“On Wednesday – 30 October 2024 – around 23h30, reports via telephone were received from villagers complaining about the hippo that is known to have been causing problems by posing threats and fear among the community, specifically at Ba Kwala and Kambinda’s families,” Muyoba said.
It is alleged the hippo persistently broke down the fences of homesteads, and proceeded to backyard gardens on which most of the locals depends for livelihood.
Muyoba narrated that the hippo showed up Wednesday night, and as usual and broke the fence at one of the affected homesteads. It then proceeded and damaged the fence of another house across the road in search of better grazing, as there was a green lawn grown around that yard. There, the wild animal nearly attacked a security guard on duty.
“The complainant alerted MET, and the response team comprising two officials on standby were dispatched immediately to go verify. Indeed, the hippo was found at the scene, as reported. Staff members assessed the situation, and upon disembarking from the vehicle, it came attempting to attack them. By luck, it was spotted coming towards them in darkness, and without hesitation, it was shot to safeguard themselves and the surrounding community,” he explained.
The solitary bull is suspected to be the same hippo which has been causing problems in the same community since last years.
It is reported that similar reports were extended to the environment ministry head office for intervention. Instruction was then given that the troublesome hippo should be identified, and immediately put down to reduce further human/wildlife conflict claims in the area.
The hippo carcass was then given to the local lnduna (headman) to distribute the meat among his affected subjects. The ministry recovered the skull that includes the tusks.