Entire herds of hippos are at risk of dying due to drought in Botswana

Entire herds of hippos in Botswana have fallen victim to the massive drought, because they became stuck in the mud of dried up lakes. Local nature conservation authorities report this. The number of animals that succumbed has not yet been determined, and authorities are still trying to count the losses.

“The river systems are drying up and animals are in danger,” said spokesman Lesego Moseki Department of Wildlife and National Parks in Gaborone. “The hippopotamus in Ngamiland depends on water from the Okavango Delta,” Moseki continued.

Southern Africa has been hit by a severe drought that has also severely affected harvests. As a result, millions of people are going 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, near the vast wetlands of the Okavango Delta, 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 where most tourists go on safari go into the country’s large game parks.

Need a bath

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 wild hippos. Their numbers are determined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimated at 2,000 to 4,000 copies. The species is considered to be in danger of extinction.