Concern as hippos die in Kenyan Lake (Lake Naivasha)

Members of the public pull down a perimeter wall around Lake Oloidien in Kongoni Naivasha after a private developer allegedly grabbed the land which is also the only corridor leading to the water body. Members of the pastoralist community, fishermen and traders termed the move as illegal and vowed that no one would take over the land. Photo by Antony Gitonga/standard

Nakuru,Kenya: Conservationists around Lake Naivasha have raised an alarm over the death of hippos in the last couple of months.

They claimed that over 20 hippos had died around the troubled lake with the cause of the death yet to be known.

Also affected is the nearby Lake Oloidien where several carcasses of the hippos have been found, with fears that the number could rise.

David Kilo from the Lake Naivasha Boat Owners Association said the cause of the deaths remains as a mystery to them.

SEVERAL CARCASSES

“We have spotted several carcasses of the hippos around the two lakes and our concern is that Kenya Wildlife Service officers have refused to act,” he said.

Addressing the Press, Mr Kilo noted that the electric fence around the lake may be behind the deaths.

Kilo who is also an eco-tourism operator said the riparian land and corridors around the lake had been blocked using electric fences.

“Last month, two hippos were electrocuted near Karagita landing beach as they sought pastures, and its time we addressed this,” he said.

He said closure of the corridors had locked out the hippos from getting pastures.