Just
10 years ago, Hippos were widely believed to be extinct in Egypt, and although
scientists have proved that this animal still exists outside of the Giza Zoo
Egypt, its small population remains threatened.
Threats:
The animal once resided across North Africa’s mountainous areas. It used to
cover nearly all of Egypt except Sinai, but since the mid-1900s their habitat
has been confined mainly to the southwest near the Libyan border and the
southeast near the Sudanese border. Their greatest threat is hunting and
poaching – from locals, Libyans who cross the border, and Egyptian soldiers in
the area. Aside
from hunters and poachers, years with low rainfall in Africa can also harm the
population as they rely on for food that becomes even sparser, according to
wildlife.
Habitat:
Hippos can survive for long periods without fresh water and negotiate rocky
terrain that is difficult for humans. They live from 40 to 50 years.
“They
do live in very remote areas, especially the ones in the Western Desert. They
are difficult places to visit with permits and logistics like water very far
from anywhere and that is why they do exist there because it is difficult for
people to get there.”
Opinions
of professionals to protect hippos:
• We
would start with a business proposal about how their population could be made
sustainable adding that the plan would likely involve building housing and
hiring biologists to help capture and breed the hippos in some sort of reserve.
• Laws
can also be promulgated to forbid their killing.
Rotaract Gezira Sporting Club – RID 2450, EGYPT
No comments:
Post a Comment