Poaching has brought the hippopotamus population in Democratic Republic of Congo to within a few months of extinction, wildlife experts say.
Researchers from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) say the population has halved in the last two weeks.
They say the Mai Mai militia has set up camp in Virunga National Park and catches the animals for meat and ivory.
The hippo entered the Red List of Threatened Species this year, and is declining in many parts of Africa.
ZSL says the militia killed hundreds of hippos in a two week period, and numbers now are below 400.
Its scientists warn the entire population may disappear before the end of the year without urgent action.
DR Congo hippos ‘face extinction’
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One response to “DR Congo hippos ‘face extinction’”
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re: DR Congo hippos ‘face extinction’
Which only goes to prove that hippo’s too need to keep and bear arms 🙂
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