PLEASE ADOPT A WILD AFRICAN HIPPO
THEY LIVE IN THE TURGWE RIVER WITHIN THE SAVE VALLEY CONSERVANCY IN THE SOUTH EAST LOWVELD OF ZIMBABWE.
During the horrendous drought of 1991/92, we kept the last Turgwe hippos, 13 in total, alive. We built them a cemented pan and water troughs, as their river eventually dried up completely. Karen Paolillo, the founder of the Trust, personally fed these hippos an amount of about one ton of food each night as there was no natural grazing left in the bush. At the end of the drought they were the only hippos left alive. All others either died or moved far away, never to return. Since that time nearly 40 hippo calves have been born. At this moment there are 22 hippos living in the Turgwe River system near Hippo Haven.By adopting one of the hippos in the two study groups, you will help us to implement a number of projects, which will ensure the long-term well being and survival of these Turgwe hippos. Some of the projects completed to date thanks to this adoption program are:
Building a second, larger cemented pan. Sinking two boreholes. Buying all equipment to run the boreholes to the pans. Maintaining existing weirs within the river system. Keeping the pools open with a sand pump. Saving two hippos sentenced to be shot as “crop raiders” in an African communal land, translocating them to the Conservancy.
Since 2000 we have been heavily involved in keeping these hippos and all wildlife alive by daily patrolling the bush to remove wire snares set by poachers. Your adoption is instrumental in paying salaries for game scouts, who help us in this anti-poaching task, as well as keeping the Trust’s vehicle on the road, and maintaining the Trust’s sand pump. Without this pump the hippos would not have pools during the dry season due to the heavy silting up of the Turgwe River.
When you adopt a Hippo you will receive via email:
-Two photos of your hippo. One on adoption, one six months later and an extra bonus photo for a special occasion of your choice, birthday, holiday season, valentine, etc.
- A video clip of your hippo.
- A personalised certificate which you can print out
- Two updates about your hippo, one on adoption, and one six months later.
As well as a newsletter about the Turgwe Hippo Trust and a fact sheet about hippos.Your contribution will cost UK£35, Euro 40 or US$55 and it will last for one year.
TURGWE HIPPOS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION:
Tembia-The younger territorial bull. Conceived during the drought.
Blackface- Mature mother of over six calves since the drought.
Cheeky- Has had seven calves since 1990.
Surprise- Has had five calves she was born in 1993.
Abe- Mature mother has had five calves since the drought.
Mystery- Mother of four calves.
Odile- Has had three calves since she was born in 1996.
Tacha- First time mother she was born on the 1.1.2000
Kuchek- Male, mother Mystery born March 2001.
Bobin- Male, mother Odile born January 2004.
Tsakus- Female mother Abe born 1st of June, 2004.
Chubby- Male mother Surprise born 4th June 2004.
Relief- Female mother Cheeky born January 2005.
Kiboko- Female mother Surprise, born January 2007.
Dizzy- Female mother Mystery, born March 2007.
Tandee- Male mother Tacha born May 2007.
Kim- Male mother Odile, born April 2008.
Peaches- Female mother Cheeky born July 2008.
To adopt one of the Turgwe Hippos it is now possible to pay through PayPal.
Please email us as well with your adoption details by clicking here for a form you can email to:
hippohaven@bsatt.com
If you do not wish to pay by PayPal please contact hippohaven@bsatt.com for alternative payment thankyou.
Thank you so very much for your support.
To Adopt a Hippo for One Year
Pay here using PayPal
GBP
£35.00
USD
$55.00
To Make a donation
Donate here using PayPal
GBP
USD
PHOTOS
Robin dominant bull taken February 2007.
Tembia gaping and showing off age 14 years.
Cheeky with her new son Marius taken October 07.
Blackface gaping at Rock pool September 2007.
Surprise 2006.
Abe walking 2006.
Odile on left of photo age 11 years taken Sept 2007.
Mystery taken February 2007.
Tacha at Mokore Pool age seven and half years.
Kuchek age six and a half years he is looking at Tandee.
Bobin age three years and eight months he is in front.
Tsakus going into the Turgwe River age three years.
Chubby age 3 years and one month.
Five age two years and seven months.
Relief in the middle of the photo age 2 years and 8 months.
Kiboko in front age eight months Sept 2007.
Dizzy age six months.
Tandee on left of Dizzy and Kuchek.
Tandee is four months old, Dizzy is six months.
Kim son of Odile born April 2008, photo taken
August 2008.
Peaches with her mother Cheeky, she is six
weeks old, photo taken Sept 2008.Above photos © Copyright Karen Paolillo
The Turgwe Hippo Trust thanks you in advance for supporting one of these hippos. Without your help these hippos would not have a good chance of further protection and conservation.
Trustees: Alex Van Leenhoff, Karen Paolillo, Sibilla Doppelfeld, Jean-Roger Paolillo.
Written material and photographs used on this page courtesy of
Karen Paolillo at the Turgwe Hippo Trust.