Ranger Diary

Hippo Carcass

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While doing a game drive on a crisp, chilly morning we had enjoyed many sights and views. Nearing the end of the drive we were traveling along the Hippo loops next to Mankwe dam looking for animals coming down for a drink, bird life and some of the interesting aquatic animals, Hippo's and Crocodiles.

Coming up to Western Hippo loop from the east we could see something large in the water up ahead. As we approached the Hippo, we realized something was wrong. There were 5 hippos around the hippo that appeared to be dead. There were no visible marks on the body and I could only envisage two scenarios; It could have died of natural causes (old age?) or lost a fight with another hippo bull and possibly even drowned because of this.

The other hippos were silent around their fallen companion and were obviously curious about the carcass, and the lack of response from the hippo. Two of the hippos were so curious that they started nudging and bumping it, trying to get a reaction. It became so intense that the one hippo gave the other a fright sending it running off! However this did not stop the other hippos from continuing their investigation. As the carcass lay on its side we saw the legs sticking out rigidly and one brave hippo started biting into the feet. Seeing that this also did not invoke a reaction he bumped the carcass a few more times and then returned to chewing and biting the feet, as the other hippos started doing the same.

This went on for a few more minutes and all the time we were watching in surprise as these large herbivores turned to cannibalism. Eventually the hippos left the carcass and we proceeded to do the same. On the way back to the lodge we discussed theories as to how the hippo died and the feeding habits of hippos, as they are herbivorous but do occasionally take to meet.

Joy Turnbull