RESIDENTS WARNED

Two killed in River Tana hippo attacks

Residents urged to ensure they are in a group while crossing the river to scare the hippos

In Summary
  • Warden tells residents living along the banks of the crocodile-infested river to tread carefully to avert attacks from the animals.
  • One could be considered for compensation adding that death cases could attract up to Sh5 million in compensation.
Residents of Tanadelta crossing the river to reach their villages
Residents of Tanadelta crossing the river to reach their villages
Image: FILE

Tana River residents have been warned to beware of dangerous crocodiles and hippos especially when crossing River Tana.

The warning from the county's Kenya Wildlife Service warden Aisha Chunaa came following the killing of two people who were crossing the river by hippos.

Chunaa told residents living along the banks of the crocodile-infested river to tread carefully to avert attacks from the animals.

She spoke in Majengo village after visiting the families of two who were attacked while crossing the river at the Majengo and Kilindini areas respectively.

The warden urged the area residents to ensure that while crossing the river, they must be in groups of at least three people to scare away the hippos warning that chances of attack while crossing alone were higher.

Chunaa advised the residents to make noise to scare away animals and strike the waters before crossing to ensure that the passage was safe.

The KWS warden also advised those families that had lost their relatives following the attack to make sure the bodies are taken for postmortem before burial so that the reports could be submitted to KWS offices for compensation.

Chunaa warned that, in case the bodies will be buried before a postmortem report was obtained, the compensation claim could be rejected on a technicality.

She urged the area residents to follow the right procedures so that their loved ones could be considered for compensation adding that death cases could attract up to Sh5 million in compensation.

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