Monday March 30, 2009
Local News
Tanzania Daily News

Hippopotamus go on rampage in Rukwa, kill one


PETI SIYAME in Sumbawanga, 30th March 2009 @ 10:40

Five hippopotamus went on rampage over the weekend in Mpanda, killing one person. Lameck Kagoma (60), a farmer from Nsanda village, was attacked and killed at Nsanda village when a herd of five strong hippos escaped from Katavi National Park. According to eye witness, the hippos passed through Nsanda and Kanoge villages in Katumba refugees camp in the district destroying crops.

Rukwa Regional Police Commander Mr Isuto Mantage said yesterday that armed Police officials who were in Kanonge village for their routine patrol were called to join armed game wardens but their efforts to drive the beasts out of Nsanda village were futile even after shooting one of the animals twice. Narrating the incident, the RPC said that on that material day, the villagers woke up only to find three hippos in their compounds. The villagers started shouting something which enraged the hippos.

It was at this occasion that the deceased arrived at the scene, boasting that he would drive the hippos out of the place alone, bragging that he had mystical power to scare off the beasts. “ Everyone advised him not to challenge the wounded beasts without fire but to no avail,” an eye witness, Peter Mwaniwasa, said.