19 May 2020

Nxaraga leadership has urged the community to be vigilant because some hippos from Nxaichai pond were roaming around the village.

Kgosi Gaolatlhe Kgosigaenyatswe said in an interview that they had been monitoring the hippos because they had potential to turn Nxaraga into a tourism destination.

The animals, he said, were a centre of attraction to many visitors and hoped that the community trust could find a niche to generate income and develop the village.

Kgosi Kgosigaenyatswe noted that initially, the pond accommodated 138 hippos and currently there were only 25 left. 

He stated that efforts were made to trace them and some villagers revealed that they saw their marks at Sitatunga area, which was five kilometres before Maun. 

“I suspect the hippos were on their way to Thamalakane River because Nxaichai was drying up, despite efforts by some private companies and Department of Wildlife and National Parks to drill boreholes in order to pump water into the pond,” he added.

Kgosi Kgosigaenyatswe appreciated efforts by some individuals and companies to feed and water the hippos during difficult times.

He stated that they were experiencing low water pressure from the boreholes, which resulted in water not flowing and being too shallow because they were using solar panels and winter season had approached.

He expressed a concern that many animals had already died due to territorial fights in Nxaraga and Nxaichai ponds.

Kgosi Kgosigaenyatswe was optimistic that the hippos would return to their original pond once Nxaraga River received annual floods. 

Recently, Nxaraga community agreed with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) to dig a trench, which could hold water near Nxaichai pond to rescue hippos, which were reported to be exposed to heat.

Kgosi Kgosigaenyatswe also appreciated that the project was completed but it seemed the hippos used the trench to drink then return to their dry pond.   Ends