City warns residents to stay away from Cape Town hippo

The City of Cape Town says a hippopotamus living in Zeekoevlei should be left alone and not approached.

"The city would like to once again urge residents not to approach or hinder the movement of the young hippopotamus that is in the Zeekoevlei under any circumstances," it said in a statement.

It asked the public to not feed, chase, or throw things at the hippo, or try to shoot it.

"If you wound a hippo, you have created a highly dangerous situation. A wounded hippo may charge on sight and may very well injure or kill you or an innocent bystander."

People should refrain from taking pictures of the hippo with a camera flash, as this could agitate the animal.

"Please leave the management of the hippo to nature conservation officials," the city said.

The hippo is a two-year-old calf which moved out of Rondevlei into the Strandfontein birding area, and later into Zeekoevlei. There are several homes on the edge of the area.

The city said its nature conservation staff was watching the animal's movements.

- TIMES LIVE