Cape Town hippo relocated after 17-hour operation to Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve

IOL News

3 days ago

The relocated hippo bull enjoys a quiet moment in the water at his new home in the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve.
Image: Supplied
A young hippo bull from the False Bay Nature Reserve has been safely relocated to the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve in a marathon 17-hour operation that highlights the City of Cape Town's dedication to wildlife conservation and public safety.
The four-year-old male hippo arrived at his new home around 8.30am on July 23, 2025, following months of intense planning, coordination, and a long overnight journey.
The relocation was orchestrated by the City's Biodiversity Management branch, working alongside wildlife veterinarians, expert handlers, and transport crews.
'The staff from the False Bay Nature Reserve and other technical staff who assisted with the building of the container and the capturing are extremely grateful for the successful translocation,' said the City's Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
Hippos are known to be highly sensitive and difficult to move due to their size, strength, and susceptibility to stress.
'These types of operations are fraught with risks such as capture stress and overheating, cold stress during winter, injury, and logistical challenges. Of course, the staff involved are also at risk, and this is where experience and professionalism count the most,' said Alderman Andrews.
The operation began on the afternoon of July 22, when the hippo was tranquilised and safely guided into a specially constructed boma and transport crate. A crane was then used to lift the crate onto a flatbed truck, which departed shortly before 11pm for the long overnight drive to the Southern Cape.
'The success is a result of meticulous planning, collaboration with external partners, and using appropriate capture and transport methods,' said Andrews.
'Capetonians are really privileged to have you as custodians of our precious natural environment.'
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The move was prompted by the risk of conflict between the maturing hippo and other dominant males in the False Bay Nature Reserve. Additionally, there were concerns that the animal could disperse into nearby areas, potentially endangering local communities and himself.
According to the City, Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve was selected as the ideal destination due to its suitable habitat, abundant water resources, and an existing hippo population that the new arrival could join.
'The Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve provides a suitable and secure habitat for hippos with adequate space, water resources, and an existing hippo population where he can fit in,' said Alderman Andrews.
Since arriving, the hippo has been monitored closely as he acclimatises in a separate dam before being gradually introduced to the resident pod.
Over the past decade, the City has successfully relocated three hippos as part of its broader commitment to sustainable wildlife management.
'The translocation demonstrates the City's commitment to wildlife management and biodiversity conservation, ensuring both animal welfare and public safety,' Andrews said.
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