Hippo kills a woman in Aweil East

By Hou Akot Hou

A woman was killed Thursday by a hippo in Wun-atem mei village in Aweil East county of Northern Bhar El Ghazal State as she attempted to cross the river to collect firewood.

The deceased Aluat Aluong Mawien, a 52- year-old mother of three, was hit by the hippo in the morning while crossing the river, eye witnesses said.

“The woman was about to cross the river when she met the hippo. It was coming at her back and the woman was about to step into the river then she got bitten from the back, chest and head. She bled seriously and passed on immediately,” Garang Ben, an eye witness told Juba Echo on Friday.

Ben said that the incident has triggered anxiety and fear in the community.

This is the second person to be killed by a hippo in Wun-atem mei village.

“This river is where people fetch water and also people in the village go for fishing. The wildlife authority does prevent people from killing such wild animals and yet they are a threat to human life,” he disclosed.

Marko Bol, the director of wildlife state department, acknowledged that stray animals pose serious threat to lives of the population.

Bol said that they have sent a wildlife team to the scene where they hope people will be sensitized on wild gem.

Similar incidents have happened in Awuluic area of Aweil town, and Wathmuok of Aweil South County where hippos have been wracking havoc to residents.