Uproar over hippo shooting

Conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts are up in arms after the fatal shooting of a hippo near eNyoni last weekend.

According to locals, the hippo named ‘mkululeka’ – isiZulu for ‘one seeking freedom ‘ – was potentially attempting to use a centuries-old migration route between KZN and the Eastern Cape when it met its fate.

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Confirming the shooting, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mntambo said they had received numerous complaints from community members who feared for their lives.

“A local induna informed Ezemvelo, fearing for the lives of his subjects,” said Mntambo.

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“The reason for its destruction was that it was putting the lives of nearby people in danger. It might have been a male that had been displaced by another male due to limited space for hippos in the area.”

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