Massive cull of hippos in Zambia

ACCORDING to the animal charity Born Free Foundation, hippos are being culled in Zambia, writes Richard Collins
Massive cull of hippos in Zambia

Over the next five years, 2,000 of them will be killed in the valley of the Luanwga River, a tributary of the Zambezi. On June 14, in response to criticism, the cull was put on hold, ‘to allow for extensive consultations’. However, the Foundation claims that it was reinstated following a Ministry of Arts and Tourism meeting on June 22. A contract to shoot the animals, it’s alleged, has been given to Theo De Marillac, a South African safari operator.

Government officials say there are too many hippos along the Luanwga and water levels have fallen too low to support them. They claim, also, that reducing hippo numbers would prevent the spread of anthrax. Critics argue, however, that there is no evidence that hippo numbers are unusually high, nor have rainfall and river data been published showing that the Luangwa can’t support the animals. Hippos spread anthrax during epidemics but there isn’t one in Zambia at present. How could an indiscriminate cull of hippos prevent future outbreaks, they ask?

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