AN adult hippo carcass was discovered near the banks of Lake Mzingazi late Thursday afternoon.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife official Phumla Zulu received a call from a community member at about 4.30pm, reporting a hippo caught in a snare in a forest area close to the weir at Forel Alley, near Richtek.
‘We rushed to the scene and found a hippo carcass with a snare attached to the left hind foot.
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‘It looks like the poor animal starved to death. The carcass is more than two weeks old and has already started decomposing.
‘It is extremely cruel and upsetting to see such a wonderful creature killed in this way.’
Zulu believes the poachers were targeting antelope such as bushbuck and duikers which roam the area.
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