In Botswana, hippos trapped in mud, symbol of dramatic drought

ENVIRONMENT – Trapped in the mud of dry ponds, large mammals risk dying: in Botswana, entire herds of hippos are victims of severe drought, as you can see in the video at the top of the article. Conservation authorities are still trying to identify the losses.

“River systems are drying up and animals are in danger”explained Lesego Moseki, spokesperson for the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) in Gaborone. “The Namiland hippopotamus is dependent on the water of the Okavango Delta”she continued, telling AFP this Friday April 26 that the number of animals having succumbed to the drought has not yet been established.

Southern Africa is hit by a severe drought, hitting harvests hard and plunging millions of people into hunger. Several countries in the region have recently declared a state of national disaster. According to experts, the phenomenon is mainly due to El Niño, which causes an increase in global temperatures.

In lack of water, hippos become aggressive

In northern Botswana, near the vast Okavango Delta wetland, the drying of the Thamalakane River has forced herds of hippos into natural water reserves near the tourist town of Maun , where most tourists leave for safaris in the country’s large wildlife parks.

Hippos with thick but sensitive skin need regular bathing to avoid sunburn and usually live in humid regions. Lacking water, they can become aggressive and approach villages. Local authorities are asking that the hippos be relocated to reserves, particularly in order to avoid conflicts with humans.

Botswana is home to one of the world’s largest populations of hippos living in the wild, estimated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at between 2,000 and 4,000 specimens. The species is considered “at high risk of extinction”.

Also see on HuffPost :