South Kivu: sale of hippopotamus meat condemned by environmentalist

Kamanyola, April 7^th, 2026 (CPA) – The sale of meat from a hippopotamus caught in a trap set by farmers has been condemned on Tuesday by an environmentalist based in Kamanyola, South Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. “It is with shock and dismay that we learned of the sale of hippopotamus meat in Kamanyola. After investigations, we unofficially learned that the animal, in search of food, fell into a trap set by unknown individuals. Unfortunately, its flesh was turned into merchandise in the town of Kamanyola. This act is discouraging and reflects the high level of ignorance within the community,” said Bienfait Akili, a civil society environmental actor in Kamanyola. “Let no one forget that these aquatic animals are among the most protected species in the world. Threats against hippopotamuses must be rejected, and awareness-raising should be strengthened to reduce human-wildlife conflict. Environmentalists and authorities at all levels are urged to take this situation seriously in order to promote environmental protection,” he added. It should be noted that the death of this hippopotamus in the Ruzizi plain follows repeated threats against pachyderms in Katogota and Kamanyola. At times, they are killed by gunfire or traps set by farmers with the sole aim of obtaining meat for consumption. Environmental journalists have already produced several awareness programs, but the community remains largely unresponsive due to a lack of sustained outreach activities.