Lake Victoria: Hippo strays into homestead, kills lactating cow

The incident happened on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Area Assistant Chief Maureen Saggia confirmed the incident, noting that hippos had become a constant menace to residents living near the lake; destroying crops, and even straying into homes at night.

According to witnesses, the hippo strayed into the home of Prisca Akello, in the dead of the night, before attacking her cows.

A farmhand at the home said the cow was left lying dead inside the compound, its neck twisted, and body bearing hippo bite marks.

The cow left behind an orphaned calf, a helpless little thing.

“The cow gave birth to a calf a month ago, and has been our source of livelihood in the family, providing us with milk,” said 73-year-old Prisca Akello

Prisca said that two other cows that had been tethered together in the compound escaped with injuries to the skin – some of which may have been self-inflicted as they attempted to flee the hippo.

Neighbours who rushed to the scene told Wananchi Reporting that they saw giant hippo footprints receding from the compound to a nearby garden.

The hippo is believed to have squeezed its giant frame through a thick euphorbia fence, and into the compound, and proceeded to attack the cows in their sleep.

According to residents, this is not an isolated incident, with a similar case having happened a few weeks earlier in Kadem area of Nyatike, where a hippo killed three cows inside a homestead.

“Our village, especially especially along the lake, do not have electricity, which makes it very dangerous to walk at night,” said one of the villagers.

Residents of Kingariso village now fear the hippo could soon attack a human, even children.

The residents are asking the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to help mitigate the situation; and reduce human-wildlife conflict in the lake region.