By Hou Akot Hou
A hippopotamus has gone wild and attacked residents in one of the houses at Nyamlel in Aweil West County in Northern Bahr El Ghazal state.
The dangerous animal attacked and killed a woman, prompting local residents to take matters into their own hands and attempt to hunt it down.
According to Philip Agany, the police director in the area, the hippopotamus has been terrorizing the community, targeting residents in their homes.
Despite efforts to eliminate the threat, the animal managed to escape into a nearby river.
“The matter is worth concerning as it killed the woman and escaped into the bushy part of the river which has marshes and was shot in the buttock twice and it escaped. This implies that it can do vengeance on people that it finds on the river bank,” said Agany.
Wildlife authorities have been alerted to the situation, but their attempts to capture the hippo have been unsuccessful.
Agany warns residents to remain cautious and avoid areas near the river where the animal may be lurking.
This incident is part of a growing trend of wildlife attacks in the area.
While wildlife officials emphasized the importance of conservation efforts, the increasing frequency of the attacks highlights the need for effective strategies to protect both humans and wildlife.