The common hippos along Tanzania's Great Ruaha River can easily spend 16 hours per day submerged in the water. But new research published in PLOS ONE, led by German Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), shows that the Vulnerable hippos are in troubled water.
The dry season in Tanzania isn't a new phenomenon. But the researchers noted that vital hippo habitat "has much less water during this season than in previous decades because it is increasingly extracted for human use," according to Alpha Galileo. http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=164966&CultureCode=en A lot of the river's water goes to agricultural production, like rice growing. And the hippos are forced to travel longer distances.
While a lot more study is required, the researchers of the study note that: "Any further decline in dry season surface water is likely to threaten the [common hippo] population in the long-term and may also affect other water-dependent species in Ruaha National Park." Considering that the river's been in a state of decline since 1993, it's unlikely that Tanzanian government will willingly take action.
In the spirit of the common hippo, we should be aggressive in urging Tanzanian leaders to protect the Great Ruaha River and the common hippos who rely on it. Add your voice to the cause by signing and sharing this petition for the Ruaha National Park's hippos.
Photo Credit: Stig Nygaard
