Hippo-sized drought

A protracted drought in southwestern Africa has not only left more than a half-million humans in urgent need of food aid but also has affected thousands of endangered animals.

Namibia’s New Era reports that the drying up of the Chobe River is causing hippos and crocodiles to become trapped in muddy pools developing along the waterway.

“Hippos are known to be territorial animals. Even if the pools dry up, they just stay there,” environment official Colgar Sikopo told the stateowned daily.

New Era Namibian wildlife officials are trying to avoid a repeat of a severe 2003 drought when 40 hippos and crocodiles got stuck in the mud and died.