Africa Wild

Twitter Post :
Kruger National Park
@SANParksKNP
Malelane Section Ranger has discovered 10 hippo carcasses in the Crocodile River. Vets and Scientists will be flown to the site to investigate and compile necropsy reports. /...

Pollution?

Could be a combination of things

Pod of dead hippos in KNP a mystery
Reynold Thakhuli, acting head of communications at SANParks, confirmed that a Malalane section ranger discovered the carcasses a few days ago.
Lande Willemse
about 1 hour ago



Photo: Latest Sightings – Kruger


The mysterious death of 10 hippos in the Crocodile River close to Leopard Creek will be investigated.

“Veterinarians and scientists were flown to the site to investigate and compile necropsy reports,” Thakhuli added.

He said water samples were taken, and that samples from fish that died had also been taken. Blood samples from the dead hippos were also drawn.

“No effort will be spared to get to the bottom of this problem.”

A few years ago, state veterinarians managed to confirm the cause of death of a number of animals that occurred in the Crocodile Bridge section of the park. These included at least 52 animals, including lions, cheetahs and seven white rhinos.

Inspection of the dams at the time revealed green scum on the surface of the water, and further tests confirmed that blue-green algae – known as Microcystis – was the main reason for the discoloured water.

One of the oldest known organisms on earth, blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, were the first green plants on earth and are found in most water bodies in low numbers.

https://lowvelder.co.za/517765/pod-dead ... p-mystery/

If the fish are dead too, I wonder if it has to do with pollution or some kind of poison

Definitely Pollution ..What else. The Crocodile River is HEAVILY polluted as is the air in the Southern Lowveld

Alf wrote: ↑Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:49 pm Could be a combination of things

Pollution Alf and Zero control by the National & Mphumalanga Govts

It is well-known that the rivers are polluted, but until now the water birds, fish and animals have not died

It is indeed a mystery!

Can't think of anything that will kill fish and hippos together..