Wildlife authorities in W. Bahr el Ghazal decry killing of oldest hippo
December 13, 2015 (WAU) – Wildlife authorities in South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal state said they have launched an investigation into the unlawful killing of the state’s oldest hippopotamus at the bank of River Jur on Tuesday.
“The hippo was shot from far distance with three bullets, so as its practice, whenever it is shot, it will follow the flow of water and die in a far distance. So it came and died near us here and when my force went they found it dead with three bullets in the body,” Urung explained, warning that the culprits will face justice if caught and found guilty for killing the animal.
He criminal, he said, will likely spend 7 years of jail sentence.
A local resident in Agok village near the river said she heard gunshots at the river side and the following day the hippopotamus was roaring strangely before it died.
Fishermen at Jur River regretted the death of the hippo they used to see at the river. Not only do they think of the revenue the animal could attract, they also said fish in the river will also reduce if all the hippos are killed.
“Killing an animal like a hippo is not good because they are very important to us for especially in the river they are the very animals which are keeping fish for us in the river. They dig holes in the sands and when fish find the holes they stay there and we can use our nets to get them,” said the resident.
Urung on the other hand called on the citizens to respect the wildlife resources, reminding that they can bring revenues if used for tourism. He said this was the second time a hippo was killed in Jur River in less than two years.
“These animals are not for wildlife alone, it is for all of us, so let us protect them, whether you are a police, an army, don’t kill these animals. Tell those who want to kill not to. These are our
resources and when people [tourists] later come and find them with us they will give something in return,” he said.
Last year farmers at the river shore however complained that the hippos had been destroying their farms and threatened to kill them. A hippopotamus also six months ago wounded a fisherman with its sharp teeth when it attacked him.
Urung advised farmers and fishermen not to come close to the hippos in the evening hours, saying the hippos come to the river bank in the evening.
The number of hippos in the River Jur is estimated to be more than ten. Western Bahr El-Ghazal state is one of the states which are sharing the Southern National Park with Western Equatoria state where animal poaching has been widespread.
(ST)