A tragic incident has left two people dead in Mtubatuba, northern KwaZulu-Natal, after they attempted to cross a river to reach the carcass of a hippo for meat.
The incident followed the discovery of a hippo that had suffered severe injuries after being caught in a snare in the Imfolozi River near Monzi. When officials arrived at the scene, they found the animal in extreme distress, with many community members already gathered along the riverbank.
Due to the muddy ground and dangerously high water levels, rescuing the animal was not possible. To prevent further suffering, the decision was taken to humanely put the hippo down. Some parts of the animal were removed as part of routine carcass management, but worsening river conditions made it unsafe to retrieve the entire body, leaving it in the water temporarily.
As news spread, several community members attempted to reach the carcass to cut it for meat. The situation quickly spiralled out of control. During these attempts, one person drowned while trying to access the carcass. A second person later drowned while searching for the first individual.
Emergency responders later recovered both bodies. The identities of the victims have not been made public, as families were still being informed.
Authorities have expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved families and issued a strong warning to communities. They urged people to avoid wildlife carcasses and stay away from rivers, especially when water levels are high, stressing that such conditions can turn deadly within moments.