In the early hours of Saturday morning 13 April, residents of Grassy Park got quite a surprise at the sight of “Scar”, the Hippopotamus, strolling down Perth Road after escaping from Rondevlei Nature Reserve.
In a statement, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA indicated that police notified their wildlife department after reports poured in of a hippo sighted walking the streets of Grassy Park.
“Quemic Rangers were on the scene within minutes, at about 01:00, and the hippo was herded back into the reserve in Perth Road using their vehicles.”
It was discovered that the Hippopotamus reportedly escaped through the fence of Rondevlei Nature Reserve. According to the SPCA, hippos are territorial and aggressive with poor eyesight.
“They are also very protective of their young, which can trigger aggressive behaviour if they perceive potential threats.
“Additionally, hippos have poor eyesight, so they may attack simply out of confusion or in response to sudden movements.”
The SPCA urges residents to immediately call authorities when spotting a hippo, as the animal could run fast and outrun people.
Meanwhile, Sidney Jacobs, chair of the Friends of Zeekoevlei and Rondevlei, said the escape was an exceptional case.
“Is this the norm for hippos to escape from the reserve? No,” he commented.“Our False Bay Nature Reserve staff meticulously ensure that they are managing the area proactively as far as humanly possible.
They were on the scene within minutes and remedied the situation effectively.”
