Man injured by hippopotamus near Aweil

AWEIL – A 54-year-old man, Tong Deng Tong, has been injured in a hippopotamus attack at Wak-Abil village near Aweil, the capital of Northern Bahr El Ghazal state.

Tong was attempting to protect his tomato farm near the river when the hippopotamus attempted to graze on the crops.

Wak-Abil resident Nyanut Deng Luil described the attack: “The hippo attacked Tong and bit him on one arm and thigh. The boys threw stones hard on it till it went back to the river.”

Tong is currently receiving treatment at Aweil Civil Hospital.

This incident follows a similar attack last year in Nyamlel, Aweil West County, where a hippopotamus killed a person before being killed by authorities.

The wildlife department warns residents against killing these animals due to concerns about their population numbers.