Three killed in croc, hippo attacks

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06 April 2018 |

Three people, including a four-month-old baby, were killed in wildlife attacks in north-eastern Namibia recently. The environment ministry yesterday confirmed that a 28-year-old woman and her baby were killed by a crocodile on the Okavango River in the Shighuru area in the Kavango East Region. Mungomba Maria Magdalena was washing clothes in the river when she was attacked by the crocodile on 26 March.

Her four-month-old baby, Kaneymba Paneyambeko, whom she was carrying on her back, also died in the process. In another incident in the Zambezi Region a 45-year-old man, Mahoto Mwilima, was killed by a hippo while fishing in the Linyanti River in the Maunga area. The incident happened on 25 March.

The director of wildlife and national parks, Colgar Sikopo, said these unfortunate incidents were worrisome, especially the attacks by crocodiles on people swimming and washing clothes in the rivers and floodplains.

With the good rains in certain parts of the country the river levels are rising and floods are already experienced in some areas.

Crocodiles, hippos, snakes and other wetland wild animals are also following the floodwater. Sikopo warned people living in these areas not to take risks that might endanger their lives.

“We advise that people should collect water from the river and immediately move to the banks where they can conduct their usual activities such as bathing and washing clothes, or to do so at their villages and not directly in the river.”

Sikopo said those fishing in the river should be very careful.

Ministry staff in the regions have been instructed to warn local communities of these dangers. Sikopo added that crocodiles and hippos were being offered for hunting under the conservancy programme so that rural communities could benefit from these animals.

In addition the ministry was investigating the possibility of granting local communities concessions to operate crocodile farms so that they could generate income from the sale of skins and meat.

ELLANIE SMIT


Source: https://www.namibiansun.com/news/three-killed-in-croc-hippo-attacks2018-04-05
 
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Thank you for sharing. Sad to hear of the loss of human life.
 
Just very sad to here about a young mother and her infant.
 
What a tragedy. Can't imagine being on a croc's dinner menu. When I fished Cahora Bassa, I saw many locals at water's edge and in the water washing clothes and bathing. That lake seemed like it was loaded with croc's and hippos. With the water down and rocks sticking up everywhere, croc's were camped out on every one. Saw many cruising the shallows too. Some scary stuff.
 
Yes one would think they would build some sort of barrier a "safe zone" in the water.
 
So sad but the mother and infant is just terribly sad.
 
I have always wondered why the native people dont build a fenced enclose out into the water whether wire mesh or boma type construction for the water users protection.

Old writers of Africana, and white hunters when on mission to eliminate killer (pac) animal, explained this phenomenon like this.

In most cases native people are superstitious and benevolent. They considered that animal attack on human life is only an act of evil spirits or evil course taking a shape of animal (like croc, or hyena, etc).

And if they have done no harm to any other person, logically, then no evil spirit will take shape of animal to take their life.
So there is no need to take any precautions.

This is how it was explained once upon a time, in the times of John Pondoro Taylor and earlier writers.
But superstition is till deep in rural areas of contemporary Africa, so this may still be valid? This would be my guess.
 
I have always wondered why the native people dont build a fenced enclose out into the water whether wire mesh or boma type construction for the water users protection.

the answer would not be politically correct but true :(
 
Building a safe zone would require considerable planning. Perhaps a grant could be obtained. .........FWB
 

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