Marauding hippo spotted in Bulilima

Source: Marauding hippo spotted in Bulilima – herald

Mkhululi Ncube, themkhust@gmail.com

A lone hippo which has been roaming dams in Bulilima District, Matabeleland South, is the talk of the villages after moving to dams in the community.

The large mammal has spent a year at Cuesteds Dam, which is located deep in grazing areas near Plumtree town.

There are several wild animals in the area, such as kudus, springboks and antelopes, with herdsmen also mentioning the presence of a leopard, which they say usually feeds on calves.

But the appearance of the hippo at a dam in the heart of the villages has brought unusual excitement, with many flocking to the dam for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Those based in the diaspora have not been left out of the frenzy, assisting in the development of theories about its presence.

Even schoolchildren are visiting the dams in the hope of seeing the animal they learn about at school.
“The hippo was put to stop people illegally finishing at Cuesteds dam,” posted one on a WhatsApp group.
“It came lenjiva for the festive season, it will disappear once they all return,” joked another villager.

Others are just excited to have the giant in their dams.
“I was shocked to hear that there is a hippo at Sayina dam. People flocked to take pictures. It was moving and grazing around the dam and never seemed bothered by the crowds,” posted another villager.

Some have even warned that those who travel at night may have an encounter with a member of the Big Five.

While generally harmless, a hippo can attack humans when cornered or agitated.

Some members are raising concerns that it may attack schoolgoing children and lone travellers, with “village experts” warning that once one is attacked by its teeth, the wound does not heal.

During the holiday, many visitors flocked to Cuosteds Dam to see the animal, with few lucky enough to see it during the day.

On Thursday, Tshankwa and Mboniso villagers were pleasantly surprised, waking up to the animal at Sayina Dam in Ward One, some 12km from Plumtree town.
“I heard about the hippo when I got home during the festive season, and I walked to Cuesteds dam to see it, but I was unlucky as it was not in the dam, grazing in the bush,” said Dr Madlozi Moyo from Diba village.

Bulilima Rural District Council Natural Resources Officer, Mr Lizwe Tshuma, confirmed the presence of the wild animal.

He said they were initially two, but suspects the other could have been killed.
“This hippo has been at Questeds dam for more than a year now and has not been giving people any problem, although some are troubling it by sending their dogs on it when it’s feeding outside the water. Today, I got a report that it is at a dam owned by Councillor Sayina Manwele, the

Councillor for Tshankwa Ward 1. We will send a team to remove it, but it is not harmful except when harassed,” said Mr Tshuma.

He said the male hippo has been roaming around for years now and was once at Gariya Dam in Tsholotsho before moving to Maintengwe Dam in Bulilima.

Mr Tshuma said the hippo could have moved from the Maintengwe Dam when it burst its banks, resulting in the loss of water.
“This hippo has been roaming around since 2014. It has been to the Gariya dam in Tsholotsho. It used to be at Maitengwe, and it also moves to many dams around the district. They were initially two, and we suspect the other could have been killed,” said Mr Tshuma.

He said they will liaise with Tshabalala Sanctuary to pick it for its safety.

He warned villagers not to harm the animal, as it may attack if cornered.

The post Marauding hippo spotted in Bulilima appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.