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| DR Congo hippos 'face extinction' | DR Congo hippos 'face extinction' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Poaching has brought the hippopotamus population in Democratic Republic of Congo to within a few months of extinction, wildlife experts say. | Poaching has brought the hippopotamus population in Democratic Republic of Congo to within a few months of extinction, wildlife experts say. |
| Researchers from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) say the population has halved in the last two weeks. | Researchers from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) say the population has halved in the last two weeks. |
| They say the Mai Mai militia has set up camp in Virunga National Park and catches the animals for meat and ivory. | They say the Mai Mai militia has set up camp in Virunga National Park and catches the animals for meat and ivory. |
| The hippo entered the Red List of Threatened Species this year, and is declining in many parts of Africa. | The hippo entered the Red List of Threatened Species this year, and is declining in many parts of Africa. |
| ZSL says the militia killed hundreds of hippos in a two week period, and numbers now are below 400. | ZSL says the militia killed hundreds of hippos in a two week period, and numbers now are below 400. |
| Its scientists warn the entire population may disappear before the end of the year without urgent action. | Its scientists warn the entire population may disappear before the end of the year without urgent action. |
| Big challenge | Big challenge |
| Twenty years ago there were about 22,000 hippos in Virunga Park, but the country's civil war brought numbers crashing down. | Twenty years ago there were about 22,000 hippos in Virunga Park, but the country's civil war brought numbers crashing down. |
| Its location on the border with Uganda and Rwanda has made it prone to incursions. Rwandan rebels fled to the area after the 1994 genocide. | Its location on the border with Uganda and Rwanda has made it prone to incursions. Rwandan rebels fled to the area after the 1994 genocide. |
| The situation had stabilised after campaigns by Congolese and UN troops to oust the rebels and the establishment of an elite ranger corps within the park. | The situation had stabilised after campaigns by Congolese and UN troops to oust the rebels and the establishment of an elite ranger corps within the park. |
| Some of these rangers have reportedly been attacked by the Mai Mai group. | Some of these rangers have reportedly been attacked by the Mai Mai group. |
| ZSL's Bushmeat and Forests Conservation Programme Coordinator, Lyndsay Gale, who spends about half of her time in Virunga, said: "This is one of the biggest challenges the park rangers have had to face since the war. | ZSL's Bushmeat and Forests Conservation Programme Coordinator, Lyndsay Gale, who spends about half of her time in Virunga, said: "This is one of the biggest challenges the park rangers have had to face since the war. |
| Battle for Virunga's wildlife "It comes as a devastating blow after recent surveys indicated wildlife populations were beginning to recover from over a decade of civil war." | Battle for Virunga's wildlife "It comes as a devastating blow after recent surveys indicated wildlife populations were beginning to recover from over a decade of civil war." |
| As well as hippos, the militia is also hunting buffalo and elephant, ZSL reports. Ivory taken from elephant tusks and hippo teeth is sold for profit. | As well as hippos, the militia is also hunting buffalo and elephant, ZSL reports. Ivory taken from elephant tusks and hippo teeth is sold for profit. |
| The society is appealing for more funds to go into its work with local conservation groups and rangers. | |
| There are thought to be about 130,000 hippopotamus in Africa, with Zambia holding the biggest population. | There are thought to be about 130,000 hippopotamus in Africa, with Zambia holding the biggest population. |
| But a continent-wide decline of about 30% in 30 years brought its inclusion on this year's Red List as a species vulnerable to extinction. | But a continent-wide decline of about 30% in 30 years brought its inclusion on this year's Red List as a species vulnerable to extinction. |