Hippopotamus kills man in Aweil West County

AWEIL – A hippopotamus attacked and killed a man on Sunday in Aweil West County of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, according to local authorities.

The hippo, which had been exhibiting aggressive behavior and attacking people in the area, reportedly mauled the man to death.

The local police responded by launching a search for the animal and killed it on Monday.

Philip Agany Thiep, the director of police in the area, stated that the hippo had previously attacked three other people before fatally injuring the young man.

“The hippo had been attacking people in the area, and as we are concerned with the safety of the people, we had to kill it since it posed a threat to local residents,” he explained.

Agany expressed concern about another hippopotamus residing in the same river, fearing it might become aggressive as well.

“This is not the only one in the area. There is another hippo residing in the river, and people living on the bank are worried about its behavior, as it might become wild too, now that its companion is gone,” he narrated.

He urged people to leave wild animals alone unless they exhibit aggressive behavior.

The wildlife ministry warned against killing wild animals, as it can lead to their extinction and hinder the development of national parks, which are crucial for tourism revenue.