By Atoyebi Nike
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has condemned the killing of a hippopotamus in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State by a local vigilante, describing the act as unlawful and deeply disturbing.
The organization identified the animal as a member of the species Hippopotamus amphibius, commonly known as the common or river hippo, which is classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. NCF said the species’ population in Nigeria has declined to an estimated 100 individuals, highlighting the urgent need for protection.
Nigeria once hosted a subspecies of the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis heslopi) in the Niger Delta, but it is now considered locally extinct. The foundation stressed that the killing of such a rare animal is a violation of national wildlife protection laws and a loss to the nation’s natural heritage.
NCF Executive Director, Dr. Joseph Onoja, linked the incident to habitat destruction and climate-driven changes, noting that flooding, shrinking grazing areas, and degraded freshwater ecosystems have intensified conflicts between humans and wildlife. He explained that hippos are vital to ecosystem balance, helping maintain wetland health and supporting biodiversity.
He urged citizens, traditional authorities, and law enforcement agencies to act against wildlife crime and promote coexistence between communities and endangered species for the benefit of future generations.
