Cape Town: The Biodiversity Management Branch of the City of Cape Town has successfully relocated a hippo bull from the False Bay Nature Reserve to a reserve in Plettenberg Bay. It was a 17-hour long operation that required a boma, a crane, a flatbed truck, highly experienced staff, expert veterinarian services, a lot of patience along with months of planning. The four-year-old hippo bull arrived safely at the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
Deputy Mayor and Member of the Mayoral Committee for Spatial Planning and Environment – Alderman Eddie Andrews said that the staff from the False Bay Nature Reserve and other technical staff assisted the building of the container and captured an extremely successful translocation for which they are grateful.
Andrews said that the Hippos are very sensitive animals and are notoriously difficult to capture and transport because of their size, strength, potentially dangerous nature and sensitivity to stress. Also, these types of operations are fraught with risks such as capture stress and overheating, cold stress during winter, injury, and logistical challenges.
Ofcourse, the staff involved are at risk and this is where they experience and get into real professionalism that counts the most, said Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews. He mentioned that he was told that the team planned this translocation many months ago, including finalizing the legal agreements, permits, appropriate transport, and specialist equipment.
Success is a result of meticulous planning and collaboration with external partners, while using appropriate capture and transport methods. “I commend our dedicated, professional and experienced staff from the Biodiversity Management Branch,” said Andrews. He also added that Capetonians are really privileged to have them as custodians of the precious natural environment.
The Hippo was relocated to prevent potential conflict with other males in the reserve. There was also the potential of the hippo dispersing into surrounding areas, risking nearby communities and himself.
Deputy Mayor Andrews said that the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve provides a suitable and secure habitat for hippos with adequate space, water resources and an existing hippo population where he can fit in.
Major details about the translocation:
- The Hippo was captured using a combination of a specially designed capture boma and transport crate, and wildlife veterinary tranquilization to ensure the safety of animals and to minimize stress.
- He was captured around 4:00 p.m. on July 22, 2025 and the operation carried on into the night to align with cooler and safer overnight transport to the game reserve.
- A crane was used to load the container onto a flatbed truck, which departed at 10:45 p.m. and arrived at the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve at 8:30 a.m.
- Since his arrival, the Hippo has been spending his time in a separate dam where he is closely monitored to allow him to acclimatize and gradually integrate into the resident hippo pod.
The City of Cape Town has successfully translocated three hippos over the past 10 years, as part of the ongoing wildlife management efforts. Andrews further demonstrated the translocation as the commitment of the City of Cape Town towards wildlife management and biodiversity conservation, ensuring both animal welfare and public safety.