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Hippo deaths spark environmental concerns

NewsDay Staff ·

Hippo deaths spark environmental concerns

A SERIES of environmental disasters in Zimbabwe have raised concern about the industry’s regulation and government’s ability to protect the environment.

The disasters, including the death of 19 hippopotamuses in the Sapi Safari Area and Chirundu, along the Zambezi Valley, are believed to be a result of improper disposal of toxic chemicals, including cyanide and mercury, used in mining processes.

According to experts, the rainy season has exacerbated the problem, as the chemicals are washed into water bodies through surface runoff, posing a significant threat to both wildlife and human health.

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