A lone wondering hippo in the Eastern Cape, South Africa who has made the Kariega River his home is in trouble. The hippo who made his appearance along the beach front of Kenton On Sea in mid 2020 has caught the interest of local hunting organisation's who would like to have him shot after the hippo had a mild confrontation with a holiday makers boat. It's been over 18 months since the hippo has made the Kariega River his home where locals have known him to be the phantom celebrity who has out witted many photographers only leaving behind his footprints. On Tuesday 21st 2021 there was an unfortunate incident whereby a family visiting the coastal holiday town took a trip far up river in their boat and saw a hippo in the water. The family continued to view the animal who then disappeared under the water and popped up underneath their boat causing a lot of panic and damaging the vessel. Both parties left the encounter unharmed. However, this incident has drawn much interest to hunting parties who are trying to get a permit to shoot a hippo which they feel is a danger to the public. This is the first ever incident after thousands of boating and kayaking trips up and down the river of which there has been no confrontation of this magnitude. 

I urge all interested parties to please sign and share this petition to let this hippo be in his natural environment. This is his home and shooting him would be poor murder and leave a bad taste in the mouths of all who visit our wonderful coast.