Park dispels hippo culling rumours

CONCERNS for 27 hippos squashed in a mud puddle at the dry iNsumo Pan in the Mkhuze Game Reserve is being addressed by the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority.

Photos circulating from park visitors showing the large pod huddled up in the sludge, sparked reports that if heavy rains do not reach the area, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife would be forced to cull them.

But iSimangaliso CEO Andrew Zaloumis dismissed this claim.

‘The report is not correct. There is water and food in the south of uMkhuze – some have moved there – and there was some rain yesterday and again today (Wednesday and Thursday).

‘The hippo will not be culled.

‘We would rather, for example, translocate them like we successfully translocated rhino owing to the drought earlier this year.’

He said conditions at the uMkhuze section, which is home to more than 23 000 large herbivores and accounts for over 43 000ha of the 332 000ha iSimangaliso Wetland Park, have vastly improved over the past year.

‘Statistics for October and November last year showed that 105 and 88 uMkhuze animals died respectively – that is 0.8% of the total population.

‘To visitors, this could have looked far higher at the time as sick or weakened animals often concentrate at and die near water holes.

‘August and September this year have shown nil returns for animal deaths owing to the drought.

‘Recent rain in July, August and September amounted to 26mm, 3.8mm and 13.6mm, and 18mm in the past 48 hours has brought a little relief to uMkhuze.

‘The rain topped up pans and should also bring about a flush in vegetation.

‘However, far more rain is needed to result in nutritious vegetation during the summer growing phase.’

Zaloumis said while the sight of carcasses may not be pleasant for most park visitors, they form part of the natural landscape.

‘For the most part, they are left on site for scavengers or predators such as hyena, lions, wild dogs, crocodiles and vultures.

‘Vultures especially are extremely endangered with uMkhuze having one of the only significant populations left.

‘An exception would be if there is a health issue and this is monitored on a case-by-case basis.

‘While the grazers are bearing the brunt of the brutal conditions, browsers like giraffe, elephant, black rhino and kudu are able to reach higher branches and are therefore more resilient.’

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

For news straight to your phone invite us:

WhatsApp – 072 069 4169

Instagram – zululand_observer