Spring 2002 – Supporters newsletter.

HIPPOS FIND A HAVEN

Karen Paolillo first met the Turgwe River hippos in Zimbabwe over 11 years ago, and she hasn’t left them since. Originally attracted to the plight of the hippos during an intense drought, Karen and her husband Jean-Roger formed the Turgwe Hippo Trust, the driving force behind the survival of these 18 highly endangered animals. During the fierce drought of 1992, Paolillo provided food and orchestrated a water hole to keep the hippos alive.

“After the drought, I could not just walk away from the hippos, as their future still required human aid, since this is a drought-prone area” said Paolillo. In that time, the Trust has seen the group of hippos grow from 13 to 18 animals, despite numerous disasters.

This winter, WSPA, (World Society for the Protection of Animals), USA, helped to fund badly needed repairs to the Trust’s only vehicle and paid the costs of digging deeper swimming holes in the dwindling river that the hippos depend on for survival.

Political upheaval in Zimbabwe has made the Trust’s job of protecting the hippos from poachers and keeping their habitat intact even more difficult, but Paolillo refuses to let it deter her from her mission.

“When I am alone with the hippos, they allow me to sit within 40 feet and they just accept me. I consider their trust a great honor from these amazing animals”.

Thanks to your support, WSPA was able to help this hardworking group when they needed it most. Thank you!