One Planet News: Hippos - large, dangerous, but neglected.
'Neglected Megafauna' challenges
by Annette J Beveridge
Hippos have been labelled "neglected megafauna," due to a lack of scientific attention and limited research into their lives and habitats.
Hippos are already classified as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and new research suggests there is a huge gap in our knowledge.
A postgraduate researcher from the University of Leeds School of Biology, Hannah Lacy, has developed a spatial database for the distribution of common hippos and population estimates across southern Africa. She has uncovered gaps in data on where hippos are present across the region, with some areas lacking population estimates altogether.
Ms Lacy said: "Without reliable information on where hippos live, and the state of their populations, it is challenging to effectively plan to protect them.
"We need a centralised spatial database and coordinated surveys to improve the conservation of common hippos - who are important ecosystem engineers across southern Africa."
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Over the last century, hippo populations have been hit hard by poaching, habitat loss and conflict with humans. Crude population estimates vary from 60,000 to 87,000 in southern Africa, so accurate data is important for effective conservation efforts.
Research indicated that where populations are known to be present, there is often a reliance on cross-border protected areas - Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs).
While protected areas are important for hippos, it also means that there is risk of breeding within a small gene pool and therefore, a risk of being genetically isolated.
The research was published in the journal Biological Conservation.
