Man,81 Trampled To Death By A Raging Hippo

ZIMBABWE – There was a tragedy in Zaka on Friday last week when an 81-year-old man was killed by a Hippopotamus while herding cattle with his grandson.

The publication established from , The Mirror that Langson Svondero was bitten on the left leg by a hippopotamus before it trampled him until he died. The octogenarian’s minor grandson then alerted villagers about the incident.

The unfortunate incident occurred in Mupuwa Village under Chief Nhema in Zaka at around 5 PM.

Masvingo Police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident saying:

A hippopotamus appeared from a thicket charging towards Svondero. His grandson called out to him but the hippo bit his left leg and he fell to the ground before he could run away.

The hippo then began trampling him. The grandson ran to the village calling for help but when it arrived Svondero had already died. He sustained a deep cut to the chest, he said.

ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo bemoaned the tragic loss of life to a wild animal and said the hippo must have come from Chiredzi River.

It is very unfortunate that we have lost a life in the human-wildlife conflict. The hippo mostly like came from Chiredzi River and will return to its habitat. We are on the ground investigating the matter.

We are having human-wildlife conflicts across the province especially in Bikita, Zaka and Chiredzi. Last year a 71-year-old man was killed by a buffalo while bathing at a river, said Farawo.