matnikstym

Just got done reading the information from Tafika Camp in Zambia where John Coppinger flew his micolight plane over the Luangwa River doing a hippo census in November. The last count was done in 1998 and there is a 35% increase in the hippo population.
More info:
AERIAL CENSUS OF HIPPOS ALONG LUANGWA RIVER

Date and Time: 17TH NOVEMBER 2006 06:10 - 07:55am

Pilot: J.COPPINGER Counter: B.JACKSON

River Km Flown and Counted: 44km

Down Stream Flight: Hippos counted 2744
Up stream flight : Hippos counted 2735
Average count : Hippos counted 2736

Count in 1998: Hippos counted 2018

Percentage Increase in Hippo: 35.6%

HIPPOS PER RIVER KM 62

atravelynn

Lots of blubber on the Luangwa River. I hope my personal blubber count is not up 35% since 1998.

Roccco

Dennis,

Wow, that is a huge increase. My favorite sound in Africa is that of hippos grunting and no better place than along the Luangwa River to hear it. Makes me a bit itchy to return to Kaingo for its hippo hide (and sleep out) and then finally get to Tafika for its microlight, Mwaleshi in North Luangwa and definitely Shiwa N'Gandu (The Africa House) near North Luangwa.

matnikstym

I know what you mean Rocco, my favorite sound also and missed it in Hwange, but the elephants trumpeting and drinking out of the pool ALMOST made up for it.

PredatorBiologist

Thanks Dennis, that's great to record such a healthy increase especially since I believe in the DRC hippos are having a rough go.

Lin

I wonder if this has to do with other sources of water drying up. The increase is a bit frightening since there is already so much competition among the hippos, and between the hippos and the crocs, when the river's low. I feel horribly sorry for them all crowded together and burning up in the sun.

santharamhari

PB,

would the flooding situation in the SL this season impact the hippos? i.e.,their territories etc etc..,?

How accurate are the census? but, it's a good sign for the hippos in the SL. Hope the same for the wild dogs of the park......

Hari

santharamhari

Dennis,

Kings Pool (WS) and Kwando Lagoon are also pretty noisy with hippos.....i dont really sleep well on safari. I wake up all night long, listening for sounds of the bush and think in terms of tracking the animals the following AM drive....

steeliejim

For us, it was the other way around. We found the night sounds very soothing. Ruth, esp. slept better than at home. Me, doesn;t seem to matter where--or when.

Well, okay, we did usually woke up early, well before our morning coffee and tea was brought to us.

Especially at Old Mondoro Bush Camp, with its tents located right on the bank of a channel adjacent to the main Lower Zambezi.

While we could have dropped the tent flaps and zipped the window coverings closed at night (very few bugs, although there WAS that pretty, green (and harmless, we were assurred) snake while we slept, we preferred keeping the room open to the night air, and just slept under the bed netting.

I sometimes would set a small voice recorder out on the stoop to capture the symphony as night turned to dawn. Loved the hippos' tuba "ho-ho-ho's" accompanied by the "Work Harder, drink more lager" birds, the muffled steps of the elephants, and their rustling as they brushed against our tent and delicately scooped up winterthorn pods scattered on the ground. And, on a few occasions, theand the occasional UH, UH, UUUUH's of the lions.

And now, I can hear them any time I want. Of course, not the same thing, at all, as being there.

Jim

luangwablondes

Seems that hippos in the Luangwa Valley do quite well. Maybe because they are protected better then most areas? Actually in Luangwa Valley they have periodic hippo culls. Last one I think was right around '98 if memory serves. Part of the reason is the hippos become overstressed from the population pressure and anthrax is common in the soils in the valley.

The hippo culls take place away from the tourists areas for the obvious reasons and the drying racks built near the river. Then ZAWA resells the meat and gives the rest to the local villages I believe.

atravelynn

I wonder how this increase affects everything else. I would think this a a healthy sign.

Interesting, Luangwablondes, that the comparison year of 1998 was right after culling.

Thanks for the hippo news, Dennis.

RonZ

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matnikstym

there's a pygmy hippo at the zoo in Hilo and I haven't ever heard it make a sound. I too sleep well in Africa but the littlest sound wakes me up...elephants walking by, hippos munching grass, lion roars etc.
Your welcome Lynn.