NGOMA - A 59-year-old man identified as Musialela Moses Luyanga, became the latest human-wildlife conflict victim when he was attacked by a hippopotamus while paddling a canoe along Kasaya River channel in Kabbe South constituency of the Zambezi region.

“He was rescued and rushed to Itomba clinic where he died while waiting for an ambulance. The deceased’s lifeless body was transported to Luhonono Health Centre and later to Katima Mulilo mortuary,” read a police report. 

The horrifying incident was reported to have happened on Friday 4 February at 17h58, at Kasamu village in the Ikaba area. 

Research shows, that these semi-aquatic giants kill an estimated 500 people per year in Africa and they are also known to be highly aggressive and are well equipped to deliver considerable damage to anything that wanders into their territory as they are largely territorial.

“It is alleged that the deceased, Luyanga, at the time of the attack, was crossing the river with a canoe and a hippo attacked him at Kasaya River channel where he was attempting to cross,” said the police.

His next of kin have been informed.

- jmuyamba@nepc.com.na