In a feat of precision, patience, and planning, the City of Cape Town’s Biodiversity Management branch successfully relocated a four-year-old hippo bull from the False Bay Nature Reserve to the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve. The 17-hour journey, which concluded at 08:30 on Tuesday, 23 July 2025, marked a significant milestone in urban wildlife management.
Why Move a Hippo?
The young hippo’s relocation was necessitated by rising tensions with dominant males in his original habitat. “There was a real risk of conflict or the animal dispersing into nearby communities,” explained Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews. “The safety of both the animal and surrounding residents was our priority.”
Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve was deemed the perfect new home—spacious, secure, and already inhabited by a stable hippo population.
Behind the Scenes: A Wildlife Operation Like No Other
Months of logistical planning culminated in a high-stakes overnight operation involving custom-built equipment, expert veterinary care, and an experienced field team. The hippo was captured around 16:00 on 22 July using a specially designed boma and tranquilised to minimize stress.
A crane hoisted the 1.5-ton animal—safely crated—onto a flatbed truck. The convoy departed at 22:45, navigating the long road to Plettenberg Bay under the cover of night to avoid the heat and reduce stress on the animal.
“This kind of operation is incredibly risky,” said a City wildlife officer. “Capture stress, cold exposure, injuries—any of these can go wrong fast. But this one went as smoothly as we could hope for.”
A New Chapter Begins
Now settling in a separate dam at his new reserve, the hippo is being closely monitored by specialists as he acclimates to his environment. Eventually, he’ll be introduced to the resident hippo pod.
This marks the City’s fourth successful hippo translocation in just over a decade, reinforcing its commitment to proactive wildlife management.
Cape Town Leads in Urban Conservation
“The City’s Biodiversity Management branch continues to demonstrate exceptional leadership in conservation,” said Alderman Andrews. “Capetonians can take pride in the professionals working to protect both our wildlife and our communities.”
