Vigilante group kills rare hippo, sparks conservation concerns

Vigilante group kills rare hippo, sparks conservation concerns

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has strongly condemned the killing of a hippopotamus in Edo State’s Etsako Central Local Government Area, calling the act a significant setback for Nigeria’s dwindling wildlife population.

The incident, reportedly carried out by a local vigilante group, highlights the severe threats facing endangered species across the country.

“We are deeply disturbed by the recent video showing the unlawful killing of a hippopotamus in Etsako Central LGA, Edo State by a local vigilante. We unequivocally condemn this act in the strongest terms,” the NCF stated in an official release.

The animal, a common or river hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius), is classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The NCF estimates that only about 100 of these hippos remain in Nigeria.

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The organisation also highlighted the extinction of the pygmy hippopotamus, a native subspecies once found in the Niger Delta, as a cautionary tale.

“The killing of a hippo, especially one from such a diminishing population, is not only a violation of national wildlife protection laws but also a blow to our nation’s natural heritage,” the statement continued. “Even when such acts are borne out of fear or economic desperation, they remain illegal and immoral.”

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NCF Director General, Dr. Joseph Onoja, linked the hippo’s death to larger environmental issues. “The hippo’s death did not happen in a vacuum. It is the consequence of habitat destruction and climate-driven environmental changes,” he explained.

“The collapse of freshwater habitats, coupled with flooding and shrinking grazing areas, is straining the fragile balance between humans and wildlife, often ending in loss of life, both human and animal.”

Dr. Onoja also emphasised the crucial role hippos play in maintaining the health of wetlands and supporting biodiversity. He urged citizens, community leaders, and traditional authorities to actively reject wildlife crimes and embrace values of coexistence and conservation.

The NCF identified habitat loss, poaching for meat and ivory-like teeth, human-wildlife conflict, and pollution as the primary threats to hippo survival.

The organisation noted that while some African countries have seen their hippo populations grow, others like Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana have experienced declines of up to 98%.

Though hippos have been listed as vulnerable since 2006, weak enforcement, the ivory trade, and the demand for bushmeat continue to drive these killings.

The NCF concluded that the Edo State incident underscores the urgent need for stronger protections, increased community engagement, and better enforcement to safeguard Nigeria’s endangered species.

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