In the
News...
June 2007
The World Conservation
This month's stories:
Hippos Observed in Sudan
According to conservationist J. Michael Fay, “This could represent the biggest migration of large mammals on Earth” He was responding to what he saw as he flew over southern Sudan in earlier 2007. Despite decades of war, wildlife east of the Nile River have not only survived but thrived. The question now is can the animals survive the resource development that quickly followed a 2005 peace agreement. Among the scores of other animals he observed…hippos.
According to the IUCN Hippo Specialist Group 1993 estimate of Africa’s hippo populations of hippos in Sudan had historically been flourishing. However, with more than a decade of unrest the health and abundance of the hippo population became less certain. By the time the next continent-wide assessment was completed in 2004, the trend for hippo populations was simply listed as “unknown” despite previously being known to exist in at least nine different national parks and game reserves.
Complete population
estimates for hippos in Sudan are still not even in the planning stages
as yet. However, Fay and his colleagues discovered
populations of beisa oryx, thought to be extinct in the region, and the
Nile lechwe, which is an aquatic species antelope found no where else
in the world, and presumed near extinction. More than 50 beisa oryx
were spotted in the Boma area alone. Almost 4,000 Nile lechwe were
estimated in the Sudd swamps along with considerable populations of
hippopotamus, buffalo and sitatunga. Numerous areas found to
be thriving with wildlife in general were areas previously documented
to contained abundant populations of hippos.
.
Source:
Environmental News Service (online)
18-June-2007
04/07/07
San Francisco Hippo Euthanized
A 44-year-old female hippo named,
Puddles, was euthanized at the San Francisco Zoo on Friday, 25
May. The bull and his mate, also 44 years old, were moved to
a temporary facility so the zoo could perform renovations on their
exhibit. After the move Puddles displayed signs of
respiratory distress, and struggled standing. He was placed on pain
medication and monitored overnight, zoo officials said.
"It's a sad day at the zoo," said
the zoo's director of animal care, Bob Jenkins.
The zoo did not blame the move for
Puddles' demise, and said Cuddles did not suffer any noticeable
negative effects from her relocation. "There's no real
evidence that any real part of the move caused this situation," Jenkins
said, noting that Puddles' partner, Cuddles, was relocated in the same
manner. On Friday, she was doing well and enjoyed a dinner of hay,
fruit, carrots and her favorite -- romaine lettuce.
During their long relationship,
Cuddles and Puddles produced 16 offspring, eight males and eight
females.
The zoo said no new hippos will be
acquired until the new habitat is finished and a necropsy has been
conducted on Puddles to determine his cause of death.
The longtime couple were being
moved because their habitat is being renovated to double their pool
space and create 2,000 square feet of grazing pasture. In preparation,
zookeepers acclimated the hippos to their prospective carrying
containers several months ago, Jenkins said.
On Thursday, they were placed inside the crates and lifted by crane to
their new quarters. During the trip, Puddles lay down in his container
and, on arrival, had difficulty standing. Zoo officials thought it best
to let Puddles leave his crate at his own pace, but even after he did,
he continued to have trouble getting to his feet.
Sources: Several
including the San Francisco Chronicle (online) and
www.sfgate.com 27-May-07
4/07/07
Ugandan Game Warden Gets Some Exercise
A terrified gamekeeper had a lucky escape after he managed to sprint to safety from a charging hippopotamus at the Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. Hippos are usually resting in the water during the day and only venture far off onto land at night. However, this hippo was on a different schedule. Despite their short legs, hippos on land can easily reach speeds of 30 kpH over short distances. Fortunately, after a nearly 100 metre chase, the hippo stopped and nobody was hurt.
Sources: Several
including The Daily Mail (of U.K) online. 7-June-07
4/07/07
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