https://www.newsday.co.zw/loca...ion-in-sharp-decline



Hippo population in sharp decline
Local News By Obert Siamilandu | 10h ago | 2 Min read

According to the survey, the decline has been attributed to droughts and human activities such as poaching along the shared water resource.

THE hippopotamus population along the Zambezi River is in a decline, a development that will affect the growth in tourism.

This was revealed during the first trans-boundary survey between Zimbabwe and Zambia conducted by the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF).


According to the survey, the decline has been attributed to droughts and human activities such as poaching along the shared water resource.

In October 2022, AWF supported a survey along a 262km stretch of the river.


The survey documented 1 424 hippos in Zimbabwe and 1 769 in Zambia.

Despite having fewer hippos, the Zimbabwean side recorded a higher number of hippopotamus pods (138) compared to the Zambian side (123).


The survey was conducted by boat within the mid-Zambezi Valley region, an AWF priority landscape.

The method allowed researchers to approach hippopotamus pods closely for better observation and helped establish more accurate data on the shared hippo population.


The last hippo census in Zimbabwe, conducted in 2002, covered the Zambezi River from below the Kariba Dam Wall to the Mozambique border at Kanyemba, opposite the Luangwa/Zambezi River confluence.


Previous surveys showed a population range between 5 763 and 6 320.

The study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Studies in March 2024, highlights insights into the population and distribution of the hippo specie in the Zambezi River.

It offers valuable recommendations for the management and sustainable utilisation of the Zambezi River hippo population and explores the factors affecting the distribution of these large mammals between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Wildlife expert Jesse Zvikonyaukwa decried the decline in hippos, describing it as a blow not only to the hippopotamus species, but to the conservation and tourism sector.

“The decline is a great blow not to the hippo species, but to wildlife and tourism,” Zvikonyaukwa said.

“Hippopotamuses contribute immensely to the wildlife tourism sector, hence when their numbers decline, the sector is affected big time. Also, tourists travel thousands of kilometres to come and see these herbivorous species and by doing so, the economy boosts.”

Zvikonyaukwa said communities should work hand-in-glove with authorities such as Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and its conservation partners in making sure the species does not face extinction.

“Communities need to fight in the same corner with the governments of the two countries in making sure hippopotamuses are conserved in the region,” Zvikonyaukwa added.

According to the study, the mid-Zambezi region experiences a severe shortage of grazing areas for four months annually, forcing hippos to migrate and congregate in certain habitats.

Additionally, poaching, hunting and human-wildlife conflict puts pressure on hippos, leading to a population decline.

Thanks Cathy and I worked the Zambezi in my youth and have just come back from a fishing trip with my sons I have never come across such a mass population that inhabits every corner of the Zambezi

The "experts" talking again.

Nowhere was anything mentioned about birth rate, survival percentages of the calves born, etc.
and from the gist of the report it seems these Hippo populations are just dwindling away until there are none left.

Thing is any nitwit who wishes to get attention writes such pieces of useless information.

The greenies gobble it up!

Just they feed on avocado!

Their brains are probably made of avocado too.

And where no blood flows, there is no intelligence!

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:
The "experts" talking again.

Nowhere was anything mentioned about birth rate, survival percentages of the calves born, etc.
and from the gist of the report it seems these Hippo populations are just dwindling away until there are none left.

That about sums it up. And, of course, "hunting" also typically gets listed as a possible contributor to Hippo decline.
Funny that "tourism" considers Hippos so important to their viability when tourism activities might actually be a contributer also, if not the actual culprit. When I hunted Nyakasanga with CMS last year I was astonished at the amount of riverbank development evident on the Zambian side which has sprung up in recent years. Both private residences and commercial convention faciities designed to accommodate throngs of people who were often partying with loud music well into the night. All of which, I suspect, must be causing Hippo displacement and probably outright removal of riverbank safe haven for Hippo. I suspect "urbanisation development" evident along the river course probably removes grazing and travel pathways for Hippo too. Not to mention increased tourist boat activity on the river. I spent a little time on the river in a boat one day and there were many other boats out and about. I was told most were from the Zambian side and most seemed to disregard the rule about not crossing the halfway line separating the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides of the river. We actually did see Hippo and all were well on the Zim side.
Considering all this I am not surprised that a survey would count lower Hippo numbers. I'm certainly not a Hippo expert, just pointing to something that might be pretty obvious.

Saeed, please don't knock the greenie avocado eaters. I need more of them. Last year my entire crop rotted because the price was lower than the cost of picking. Many tonnes hanging on the trees now hoping for the price to rise.
Nothing wrong with the numbers of hippos on the Zambesi that a .375 wouldn't improve!

Saeed, you might very well say that a 375 could improve the Western hippos too, but I couldn't possibly comment!