The El Nino drought that has affected much of southern Africa including the Okavango Delta has meant water and forage for wildlife become scarce. As a result, herds of hippos have become stranded at Nxaraga near Maun due to the lack of food and water. Over 100 hippos are thus stranded at the Nxaraga lagoon.
In addition, the drying of the Kunyere channel and pools of water forced some hippos from Nxaichai pool to Nxaraga pool. This as a result has led to overpopulation and competition for space as well as for food and water. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Save Wildlife Conservation and some private individuals have since become engaging in saving the stranded hippos by providing lucerne and water through boreholes to the animals.
The provision of water and lucerne to the hippos is not long-term solution to the hippos. There is also need for authorities to appreciate that hippos are dangerous animals especially in areas where they encounter human settlements such as the community of Nxaraga. Hippo migrations or movements in the bush in search of food can be dangerous to livestock farmers in the area.
That is, hippos move both at night and during the day searching for water and vegetation. These movements in the Nxaraga area might be dangerous to human life). Hippos are highly territorial and can be extremely aggressive if they feel threatened. Hippos are also particularly protective of their young and their territory. As a result, if they perceive any threat to their offspring or their domain, they can react aggressively. Finally, hippos spend a lot of time in water and can be unpredictable when people are near or in water bodies where hippos are present.
We should appreciate that hippos at Nxaraga are currently in an area used by human beings. In this regard, measures should be undertaken to protect human life. First, authorities should consider the translocation of the hippos Translocation can be undertaken if costs or budget permit.
However, the high costs and lack of budget either from Government or from NGOs such as Save Wildlife Conservation may result in idea failing. In addition, research should first establish the areas where the hippos are to be translocated. In addition to many other ecological factors, hippos are territorial animals hence some are likely to be killed in destination areas of translocation.
Secondly, culling of the hippos should also be an option. Our hippo population is healthy and removing a 100 will not affect the environment. The Kaza Elephant Survey (2022) indicate that KAZA Region which includes Nxaraga has a total of 8649 hippos, some put it as 12,536 (chase et al 2018). In this regard, eliminating a 100 hippos might not affect the system more also that the presence of those hippos at Nxaraga increase the human wildlife conflict situation.
Before any decisions are undertaken by authorities, the provision of water to hippos from boreholes is critical. The provision of food to hippos especially lucerne is also critical. However, the presence of livestock especially cattle and goats which also come and drink from the water is another challenge that may cause conflicts. Elephants and other species may also come to the pool and conflicts will emerge. It may also be expensive to continue feeding the hippos if a budget is not available for this development. Finally, if hippos are to remain longer at Nxaraga, it’s crucial to have measures in place to minimise hippo interactions with people and people should be educated about the risks involving hippos.
