Rangers in Hwange busted a poaching syndicate at Cross Dete leading to the recovery of 96kgs of raw ivory.
Rangers in Hwange busted a poaching syndicate at Cross Dete leading to the recovery of 96kgs of raw ivory.
Celebrating the month of love in the heart of Mana Pools.Experience the beauty of nature!!!
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The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority joins the world in commemorating World Hippo day, here are some interesting facts
Physical Structure
The hippopotamus is a semiaquatic mega-herbivore which can weigh over 1000 kilograms, about 2200 pounds. These animals consume large amounts of terrestrial vegetation, around 40 to 50 kg of wet mass, during nightly foraging bouts. After these foraging bouts, the hippopotamus returns to their aquatic refuges and spends most of the day resting and defecating.
Contribution to Ecosystem
Hippos are ecosystem engineers – that means that they create and change the land in and around wetlands. They do this by moving a lot of soil around with their sheer size – they create channels in the water and paths on land that redirect water. This also creates habitat and shelter for smaller creatures. Hippos also play an important role in the wetland by fertilizing the water. By eating on land and defecating in the water, they bring nutrients to rivers and lakes that wouldn’t otherwise be there, helping enrich wetland plant and animal life.
Inset from Zimpapers.
THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority last week shot dead a hippopotamus that was damaging winter wheat in Nyanyadzi. The hippo, which had a calf, is believed to have escaped from Save Conservancy. ZPWMA ordered the shooting of the hippos after traditional leaders in the area reported that it was damaging crops and endangering lives. ZPWMA officer, Mr John Danfa, said they were still hunting for the calf which is believed to have found habitat along Save River. “Usually hippos move up and down rivers during the rainy season. We believe the two escaped from Save Valley Conservancy. They were both females and they do not usually click if there is no male.
“They are believed to have separated. We received reports from traditional leaders in Hot Springs and Nyanyadzi that these hippos were feeding on wheat and crops in their fields.” “People’s lives were endangered so the authorities ordered its killing. The first time we attempted to kill it, it was in the company of so many cattle and could not do anything.
Our officer teamed up with villagers to track it until last week when it was shot down in Nyanyadzi”. The officer is said to have fired 12 shots before the hippo died. The meat was shared by villagers. One of the villagers in Dirikwe village, Mr Tapiwa Munyati, said: “This hippo was becoming a threat to human lives in the area. It was being spotted near homes at night.
“There are vegetable gardens along one of Save River’s tributaries where it was being spotted.“We were told that hippos do not like light and the danger was that lives would have been lost.” “A villager survived death by a whisker recently when the hippo strayed into his homestead.“He went out of his house to investigate when his dogs were barking. He had a torch and the hippo advanced towards him. “Fortunately he managed to escape the attack and notified other villagers and the village head. We are appealing to the responsible authorities to make sure that the remaining one is also killed,” said Mr Munyati.