Lake Tanganyika : hippopotamuses continue to kill, around ten dead in one month

SOS Médias Burundi

Rumonge, June 23, 2026 – Around ten people were killed in June by hippos on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and in their usual grazing areas, according to local administrative sources. Seven cases were recorded in the district of Rumonge in Burunga province, in southwestern Burundi, and three others in Gitaza, in the district of Muhuta, in Bujumbura province in the west of the country.

The same sources indicate that these incidents are partly linked to non-compliance with environmental regulations mandating a 150-meter buffer zone along the lake. They state that some dwellings, agricultural activities, and frequent passage of people continue to encroach on this buffer zone, thus increasing the risk of encounters with hippos.

Dangerous animals out of the water

Local authorities remind the public that hippos generally leave the lake at nightfall to graze on land. Although they are often perceived as calm animals in the water, they can become particularly aggressive when they feel threatened or when protecting their young.

In these situations, they do not hesitate to attack any person or animal nearby, causing serious injuries and sometimes death.

Call to respect the buffer zone

Faced with the increase in these incidents, local administrative authorities are conducting awareness campaigns in the affected districts. They are calling on the population to strictly respect the 150-meter buffer zone and to avoid any contact with hippos, especially at night and in the early morning.

They are also emphasizing the need to strengthen coexistence between human activities and wildlife conservation in order to reduce loss of life while preserving the lake’s ecosystems.

The increasing human activity in natural areas highlights a growing challenge in the regions surrounding Lake Tanganyika : reconciling local development with the safety of the population in the face of wildlife.