Guest guest Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Congo hippos on verge of extinction Experts have warned that the hippopotamus population in eastern Congo is in danger of becoming extinct within weeks because of illegal hunting and poaching. Researchers from the zoological society in London say Mai Mai militiamen operating in the Verunga National Park of eastern Congo have been killing hundreds of hippos each month in order to sell their meat and ivory tusks. The situation they say is critical because there is probably only 400 hippos left in the park and that by the current rate by the end of the year there'll be none. Twenty years ago there were an estimated 20,000 hippos in eastern Congo, but the number has been sharply reduced because of food shortages caused by the continuing conflict. -BBC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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