Hippo slaughter
The gruesome scene of hippo remains on the banks of Lake Hlobane as community members cut the remainder of the carcass on Saturday morning
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife District Conservation Manager, Frans Mthembu along with officials Eric Gcabashe, Mandla Mbonambi and Samso Gumede discovered the remains of the hippo after poachers allegedly shot the animal earlier in the week
Ronelle Ramsamy
THE number of hippos breeding at Lake Hlobane has dropped drastically to approximately six, as poachers continue to hunt the large herbivore to sell meat and feed local communities.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife officials discovered a hippo carcass on Saturday morning after the animal was reportedly shot by poachers earlier in the week.
Despite an unbearable stench, community members braved the inclement weather conditions and made their way through the dense forest to the banks of Lake Hlobane to cut pieces of the hippo meat.
The dead animal was discovered with its head decapitated and other remains scattered around the banks of the river.
District Conservation Manager, Frans Mthembu told the Zululand Observer that the dead hippo was still floating in the water on Friday night when Ezemvelo Wildlife officials, together with Border Line police, combed the area for suspects.
'We also conducted road blocks to check for those in possession of hippo meat. We had to call off the search on Friday night because of poor visibility and resumed on Saturday.
The hippo was killed with a hunting rifle and we are appealing to the magistrates that if these perpetrators are caught, they must dish out the maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.
'I don't think there are more than six hippos now left in this river. People should not be allowed to be in possession of these unlicensed firearms,' said Mthembu.
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