Honest Makanyire – On World Hippo Day, experts highlighted the alarming decline of hippos, reporting that up to 20% of the population had disappeared over the past decade and warning that a further 30% could be lost over the next 30 years.

With only around 115,000 adult hippos remaining in the wild, conservationists cautioned that these iconic African animals could vanish within a century if urgent action was not taken.

“Hippos have been under immense pressure from habitat loss, poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and climate change,” said a Zimbabwean wildlife expert. “If we don’t act now, future generations may never see these incredible creatures in the wild.”

The main threats highlighted included:
Habitat loss caused by expanding agriculture and urban development
Poaching for ivory teeth and meat
Human-wildlife conflict when hippos moved into farms or villages
Climate change and drought, which disrupted their ecosystems
The report noted that hippos play a crucial role in maintaining healthy grasslands and wetlands through their grazing, while their dung provides essential nutrients that support aquatic life and plant growth, benefiting entire ecosystems.

“Protecting hippos is about more than saving a species,” the expert added. “It’s about safeguarding wetlands, rivers, and the biodiversity that depends on them.”

Conservationists urged people to support habitat protection and reject poaching to ensure a future where hippos could continue to thrive across Africa.