Conservation authorities on Friday (April 26)said that herds of endangered hippos, trapped in the mud of dried-up ponds, are at risk of dying in drought-hit Botswana. Southern Africa has been hit hard by a severe drought caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon, affecting harvests and leading millions to hunger.
Several countries in the region have recently declared a state of national disaster.
Close to the expansive wetlands of the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana, the Thamalakane River, now dried up, has forced herds of hippos to migrate towards natural water reserves near the tourist town of Maun.
“The river system dries up and animals are in a compromised situation,” said Lesego Moseki, spokesperson for the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) to AFP in Botswana’s capital, Gaborone.
Botswana is home to one of the world’s largest wild hippo populations, estimated at between 2,000 and 4,000 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
“The riverine vegetation is poor and the hippo in Ngamiland (northwestern district) depends on the water flowing through the Okavango Delta systems,” Moseki said adding, “They were still looking into how many hippos had died in the pools,”.
Hippos have thick yet sensitive skin, requiring regular bathing to prevent sunburn, and they typically live in humid regions.
In the absence of water, they may become aggressive and venture into villages. Local authorities suggest relocating hippos to reserves to prevent conflicts with humans.
El Niño, a natural climate pattern, often brings global heatwaves, resulting in drought in some areas and heavy rains in others.