Three Koeltehof employees were part of a bizarre series of events that transpired on Tuesday. At around 05:00 Mr Nomucebu and Ms Juliet Mnisi sustained moderate to serious injuries on their way to work after their vehicle crashed into a hippo in the Kiepersol area.
Their general manager, Mr Patrick Caeteno who had just returned from his morning cycling session, was notified of the accident, got into his bakkie and on his way to assist the Mnisis, he collided with another hippo barely a kilometre from the accident scene. What was more, Caeteno said he saw another two hippos not far away.
He recalled how the hippo ran along the fence and came down an embankment and headed straight for his bakkie. He swerved to try and avoid a head-on collision but hit the animal with the side of his vehicle.
“I saw a stationary Great North bus in the road ahead, and as I slowed down to about 60 kilometres per hour the collsion with the hippo happened,” he said.
“As I stopped in an area that is safe, the commuters on the bus ran to me to see if I was okay.
“Only then did I realise what had actually happened,” he told the newspaper. Other than whiplash, he escaped unscathed and could continue his journey to the Mnisis.
Both Mnisis had sustained serious head injuries and were taken to Mediclinic Nelspruit and Rob Ferreira by ER24. They were discharged the same day.
Why are there so many hippos in this area?
A well-known farmer in the area, Mr Hans Prinsloo, said hippos have always been a problem, but since the drought started, it has gotten worse as they are in constant search of greener pastures and water.
Mr Ian Macdonald, lecturer in game ranging and wildlife management at Unigrad Lowveld, explained that the drought is forcing these animals further and further away from water.
“As large as these animals are, they feel incredibly vulnerable due to the current conditions and therefore their behaviour is changing.
“Adding to this, farmers are fencing their property to try and protect their crops from theft and damage caused by these animals, and thus forcing them to the road.”
He added that in the case where the hippo ran towards Caeteno’s vehicle, it is proof that they become more aggressive due to their vulnerability.
Prinsloo said farmers have learned to live with hippos and will never do them any harm.
Therefore, erecting fences around their premises is the only way to minimise the damage they cause, which now causes them to be funnelled into certain areas.
“Motorists need to practise extreme caution when driving, not only on this road, but everywhere in the Lowveld, especially at night when hippos are most active,” Macdonald concluded.
Where are the hippos now?
The hippos were not killed by the collision and according to MTPA’s Mr Louw Steyn, no injured hippos have been reported to them yet. He urges the community to be on the lookout and phone 013-759-5301 should you come across these animals.
