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issn 0856 - 9135

Issue No. 0696:

Jan 14 - 20, 2012



Irate hippo capsizes boat, fisherman drowns

By Joseph Lyimo

Ally Saidi (25), a Bonga village fisherman in Babati district, Manyara region passed drowned when their boat capsized after being rocked by an enraged hippopotamus in Lake Babati while fishing around Himiti village.

According to Manyara Regional Police Commander Liberatus Sabas, the grisly incident occurred on January 5, 2012 at around 7:30 in the morning around Himiti village on the shores of Lake Babati. The boat they were using was attacked by a hippo making it capsize. Saidi, who could not swim drowned.

“The fisherman could not swim. When the hippo rocked the boat it capsized. He was jerked into the water where he drowned ,” said RPC Sabas.

He advised fishermen to take precautions while carrying out their duties. Currently fishing in Lake Babati is banned since last year.

“Although at present no fishing activities are allowed in the Lake I am warning fishermen to avoid hippos as much as they can, to escape from their recurrent attacks on fishing boats,” RPC added.

Last year, four hippopotamus related deaths were reported in the lake. This is a big threat to residents who are used to bathing, washing clothes along the shores of the lake and also fishing.

quote:

“Although at present no fishing activities are allowed in the Lake I am warning fishermen to avoid hippos as much as they can, to escape from their recurrent attacks on fishing boats,” RPC added.

Anyone else notice something wrong with this statement or is it just me?

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanamich:

quote:

“Although at present no fishing activities are allowed in the Lake I am warning fishermen to avoid hippos as much as they can, to escape from their recurrent attacks on fishing boats,” RPC added.

Anyone else notice something wrong with this statement or is it just me?

The hippo that inhabit the lake conduct their own anti fish poaching patrols - seemingly with great effect