Grave concern for hippos as Chobe levels dwindle
The low levels of the Chobe River has filled many with concern for dozens of hippos that may once again get stranded in its mud.
In August 2019, more than 60 hippos were trapped in the shallow waters of the river between Namibia and Botswana, which was drying out due to the drought.
An emergency borehole was successfully drilled to pump water into the area, located to the west of Ngoma in the Zambezi Region.
According to Simone Micheletti, managing director of Wild Waters Group and chairperson of the Namibian Wetlands Route, although the situation is not yet critical, it is bound to become critical in the next few weeks.
“There is the existing borehole from 2019 - it just needs a pump and pipes,” he said.
Micheletti added that the river’s levels are typical for September or October, but it is worrying that it is only March and the river is this low.
Human-wildlife conflict
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta also expressed grave concern about the situation.
He said when visited the area at the end of last year, at some points, the river was already so low that a person could walk through it.
The minister added that this is very dangerous as people take chances and it increases cases of human-wildlife conflict with hippos and crocodiles.
When the levels of the river get low, wildlife usually converge and it may cause further problems as humans and wildlife compete for natural resources such as water, he said.
Shifeta further noted that the ministry will closely monitor the situation to determine whether water should be pumped into pools where hippos may get stranded.
There were no readings for the Chobe River in last week’s flood report by the Hydrological Services of Namibia.
In August 2019, more than 60 hippos were trapped in the shallow waters of the river between Namibia and Botswana, which was drying out due to the drought.
An emergency borehole was successfully drilled to pump water into the area, located to the west of Ngoma in the Zambezi Region.
According to Simone Micheletti, managing director of Wild Waters Group and chairperson of the Namibian Wetlands Route, although the situation is not yet critical, it is bound to become critical in the next few weeks.
“There is the existing borehole from 2019 - it just needs a pump and pipes,” he said.
Micheletti added that the river’s levels are typical for September or October, but it is worrying that it is only March and the river is this low.
Human-wildlife conflict
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta also expressed grave concern about the situation.
He said when visited the area at the end of last year, at some points, the river was already so low that a person could walk through it.
The minister added that this is very dangerous as people take chances and it increases cases of human-wildlife conflict with hippos and crocodiles.
When the levels of the river get low, wildlife usually converge and it may cause further problems as humans and wildlife compete for natural resources such as water, he said.
Shifeta further noted that the ministry will closely monitor the situation to determine whether water should be pumped into pools where hippos may get stranded.
There were no readings for the Chobe River in last week’s flood report by the Hydrological Services of Namibia.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article