In a horrific incident that has sent shockwaves through rural communities along the River Gambia, Dawda Jallow from Brikama Ba, a traveling herdsman, was killed by a hippopotamus early Sunday morning near the riverbank in the bushes of Jafaye village in Niamina East District.
The victim, a pastoralist who had traveled from Falladou with his herd of cattle in search of fresh grazing land, ventured into the dense bush along the riverbank to look for missing goats.
According to eyewitness accounts, he stumbled upon a female hippopotamus that had recently given birth and sought refuge on land with her calf. Feeling threatened, the protective mother charged at the man in a ferocious attack.
Witnesses described the killing as particularly gruesome, with some reports suggesting the victim was beheaded in the violent encounter. The incident occurred at a hideout inland from the riverbank, highlighting the growing dangers of human-wildlife conflict in the area.
News of the tragedy spread rapidly through Jafaye and the surrounding villages, prompting residents to seek assistance from the nearby Kudang military camp urgently. Community members requested that soldiers intervene by eliminating the dangerous hippos. However, military personnel at the camp stated they had received no orders from superiors and could not take action.
A community leader revealed that residents had repeatedly reported hippo threats to wildlife department officials, especially after hippos killed four cattle in just one month. Despite these warnings, no preventive measures were taken, leaving locals frustrated and fearful.
Fishermen on the nearby Kudang River side recovered the herdsman’s remains after being called to assist.
The incident has reignited long-standing tensions in the southern central River region. While Gambian wildlife laws strictly prohibit the killing of protected species like hippopotamuses, villagers argue that authorities must balance conservation with the need to safeguard human lives and livelihoods.
Many are now demanding immediate answers and concrete steps from the Department of Parks and Wildlife to address the persistent hippo menace.
This latest fatality underscores the escalating conflict between humans and wildlife in rural Gambia, where expanding grazing and farming activities increasingly overlap with animal habitats. Residents are calling for urgent dialogue, possible relocation efforts, or revised policies to prevent further tragedies.
As investigations continue, the community mourns the loss and hopes for swift intervention to restore safety along the River Gambia.
