31 Oct 2019

There is a ray of hope for hippos that were left stranded due to effects of drought at Nxaraga in the outskirts of Maun.

On October 30 , a Maun based organisation known as Elephant Protection Society (EPS) formalised its initiative of feeding the remaining 80 hippos at Nxaitsha pool in Nxaraga by inviting the Nxaraga community and stakeholders to appreciate its efforts.

Some hippos were seen already actively moving around while some were still lying down with no sign of waking up.

The organisation started the exercise of providing feeds to the Hippos on October 10 and is hoped to continue for about three months with the assistance from other organisations such as Great Plains, which came on board to support the initiative.

Speaking at the event on Wednesday, the EPS public relations officer, Mr Daniel Stoffel said the organisation initially found about 150 hippos stranded at Nxaraga lagoon around August this year.

He said sometime in September, the Nxaraga lagoon dried up which left the hippos stranded and some succumbed to death.

He said the remaining hippos were relocated to the current Nxaitsha pool, where only about 80 hippos were remaining.

Mr Stoffel observed that the EPS stepped in to provide feeds to the stranded animals after learning that the Department of Wildlife and National Parks had found an alternative to provide water to the hippos.

He said the feeding initiative received support from Great Plains with grass and transportation, while  some grass was supplied by Woodsmoke organisations.Nonetheless, he said, there was still need for more donations and support since there were many hippos that needed help.

Mr Stoffel noted that wildlife required protection from communities and stakeholders as tourism was the second income generator in the country.

He said their organisation which was formed this year aimed to protect wildlife endangered species as well as to promote co-existence among the communities.

The Great Plains managing director, Mr Darian Hoy said the assistance to feed the hippos in a period of three months would cost between P100 000 and P200 000.

Mr Hoy said Great Plains would do all possible to support the initiative by EPS, adding they hoped rains would had come by the end of the agreed three months to bring the drought to an end.

Great Plains general manager, Mr Bruce Petty said the initiative to save the hippos was a commendable job that required support from the community and other stakeholders.He said wild animals provided opportunities for people and united people worldwide not only in Botswana.For his part, an official from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) in Maun Mr Chief Tsholofelo said the Nxaraga lagoon experienced drought effects from around June this year, which left the hippos stranded and fighting for space resulting in the deaths of some.

Mr Tsholofelo noted that some hippos were relocated from the Nxaraga lagoon to the Nxaitsha pool where the remaining hippos were found.

He said the DWNP had managed to drill a borehole which was initially slow due to being solar powered.ENDS