Crime Fighting Hippos Get Reprieve in South Africa |
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| Elders in Khula Village near
St. Lucia have spoken in support of a local hippo population following an
attack on 22 year-old Nkosinathi Ntombela. Details of the attack are
still unclear. Unfortunately, the victim suffered severe injuries and
may be paralyzed from the neck down. KwaZulu-Natal game officials
quickly offered to destroy the hippo following the attack, but according
to chief Caiphus Mkwanase, "This is our animal, it has lived here for more
than 10 years. We do not want to have it killed...It is unfortunate that,
after all this time, there has been an attack on one of our people. We
have lived in peace with the hippo for many years."
Tom Conway, conservation manager for
the St. Lucia Reserves expressed surprise that more hippo attacks have not
occurred in Khula Village as the local hippos graze right along the sides
of homes in the night.
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However, Mkwanase explained this actually
provided security in the village. "In fact, our hippo have been our
security system. No one dares go out at night to commit crimes because
they could become victim to our 'security force'."
Following the initial decision not to destroy the hippo involved in the attack, the family of Ntombela pressured the chief and his council to take some action to prevent future incidents. Chief Mkwanase has since asked KZN Wildlife to relocate the hippo. This will be no small undertaking as no one is exactly sure which hippo from the herd was responsible and the entire herd will have to be moved.
Sources: Niki Moore of South African
News 24 (Online) - March 2002 |
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