Thursday, November 22, 2018

Death in The Water: Malawi's Hippos Suffer Mysterious Deaths

Malawi's hippo population is in danger from an unknown 'beast'.
The worst part is that there is no safe haven for them; for even places hither to considered safe have been death traps.

NATURE'S GIFT: A hippo-- Picture courtesy of Parade

While Malawi's hippo population is not known, the country has lost 22 hippos in death from October this year to date, with Department of National Parks and Wildlife indicating that carcasses of the hippos started floating on October 10.
Sadly, the hippos died in Lake Malawi National Park, the safest place in Malawi.
More worrying, the cause of death is unknown,. although Director of Parks and Wildlife, Brighton Kumchedwa, is of the view that climate change could have played a role in the death.
But the issue is getting complicated, as Deputy Director in the Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Julius Chulu, is of the view that over-concentration could be to blame.
During the dry season, water levels recede and the hippos have nowhere to hide, literally.
And, as investigations as to the cause of death continue, they remain refugees of death in Liwonde National Park, the safest place they can ever get in Malawi.
One hopes more do not die.
And one hopes locals do not eat the dead bodies.
Malawi is facing a faceless crisis.


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