Department of Agriculture and Rural Development discuss how to deal with hippo roaming Fourways
CHARTWELL – The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has given an update and plans on how they will deal with the hippopotamus spotted in Chartwell.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has given an update on the hippopotamus that was seen in Chartwell.
The hippo was initially spotted between 29 and 30 December and pictures were quickly posted on social media of the animal roaming along the Klein Jukskei River.
Spokesperson for the department Nozipho Hlabangana said, “The deparment was contacted by a concerned member of the public on 29 December 2020 to report the sighting of a hippopotamus in Chartwell near the Jukskei River. The department has alerted the police together with local conservation practitioners in the area and a private security company who assist in wildlife issues. The department is collaborating with the mentioned stakeholders to monitor the movements of the hippo in and around the mentioned area.”
Hlabangana added that so far the animal had not caused any damage nor posed a threat to any human or animal lives. “It is believed that the hippo originates from the Hartbeespoort Dam area and that if left in peace will return voluntarily to the area of origin.
“This is a wild animal and they generally stay in water for the better part of the day and feed or eat grass at night, however, there are instances where the animal will be out of water during the day, but this is not common.”
WARNING TO RESIDENTS OF GAUTENG FOURWAYS – JUKSKEI RIVER AREA : HIPPO VISITING. pic.twitter.com/NDpaC2dh1d
— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) January 11, 2021
The department is encouraging members of the public to be vigilant and remain cautious by keeping their distance and not approaching the animal or provoking it in any way. Additionally, the hippo should not be fed so that it is discouraged from staying in the area.
“Hippos are very aggressive and considered very dangerous. The have large teeth and tusks that they use for fighting off threats, including humans.”
Gotwe people in Fourways don’t pay their insurance and now Hippo is out and about to collect premiums 😂
PS: stay safe. Apparently the animal is in the Fourways area. pic.twitter.com/VK8MnB9DH0
— Tshepang Koloko (@TshepangKoloko) January 11, 2021
She added that department had two options to deal with the animal and the first was to monitor it. “Notwithstanding the fact that the animal in question is randomly moving between its habitat and Jukskei River, between Chartwell and Fourways, the department has not received a report suggesting that the animal poses an imminent threat to human life, however, the department is of the view that the animal’s behaviour is unpredictable, hence, it is embarking on the process to consider moving the animal to an area safe from possible threat to human life.”
The second option involves the department organising a live capture operation to remove the animal from the area. “It is further understood that the animal has not been observed for the last four or five days and by implication this suggests that the animal has moved back to its natural habitat and thus gives the department the time to finalise the procurement of the live capture services from the private operators because the department does not have the internal capture services.”
The department has asked members of the communities and stakeholders in the area to report any movement of the animal to the local police or to and official of the department whose contact details have been provided.
“During the monitoring process, the department is mindful that should the animal pose an imminent threat to human life, the department will have no option but to consider putting down the animal.”
Details:www.gauteng.gov.za
