BIG GAME IN UGANDA

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 20889, 22 August 1939, Page 10

BIG GAME IN UGANDA

ANGRY ELEPHANTS I MAN-EATING LIONS HIPPOPOTAMI GAVE TROUBLE (Prom a Correspondent) LONDON, July 12 Elephant control is dealt with at length in the report of the Game Warden of Uganda, Captain C. R. S. Pitman. During 1938 some 1500 elephants were killed by the department and licence-holders, 500 fewer than in 1937. The Warden hopes that it will be unnecessary to increase the rate of killing again, as less damage is being done by elephants to cultivation. Incidents mentioned in the report include the following:— One of the guards was treed for four hours by an angry herd of elephants. He had killed two and wounded another when Ills extractor broke, 'llie wounded animal made a great noise and attracted a herd, which would not leave it. The guard, precariously perched in a tree, spent his lime unsuccessfully pushing sticks down the barrel in an effort to free tlie case. At the end of his exhausting vigil he was a nervous wreck. Two licence-holders reported that they had killed two elephants with one bullet. In each case a .375 bullet passed through the elephant which was the actual target and killed anj other standing behind. * A chief reported that an elephant I had picked up a burning log thrown at him and deposited it on the thrower's hut, which was burnt down. The chief adds that this tends “to show that elephants have as much intelligence as Europeans. Gorillas on Ruwenzori A small family of gorillas was seen on the southern slopes of Ruwenzori; this is the first confirmed report of their presence in this locality. Maneating lions were troublesome in I some parts. Buffalo are increasing , and are a dangerous nuisance in several districts. They were responsible for many deaths, but, the Warden adds, in nearly every case man in the first instance was the aggressor. Roan, eland, Uganda kob and others j are holding their own and probably . increasing, but the extension of cul- ! tivation is driving them into the re- ' serves. ! Wild pigs are numerous and desi trurtive, and are probably increasing owing to'the killing off of the leopards, i In one case in Toro a chief stated he , had killed a number of what he called “English pigs.” It seems that some years ago a planter had kept pigs in in this area, and it is believed that some had gone wild and inter-bred J with the bush pigs. Hippopotami are numerous in the | Lakes and sometimes give trouble to i canoe-men and do damage, to lakeside ; cultivation. In September, in the ; I vicinity of Nsongezi, on the Kagera | | River, a hippopotamus attacked and • badly damaged the mail van. The van [ • came round a corner on to a couple ’ j of hippopotami which were fighting in (the road, and one promptly attacked ! j the car. Six weeks later there was j a similar incident at this corner. An j aggressive hippopotamus got almost ; 1 under the van, but luckily failed to overturn it. On each occasion the J attack took place just before midnight. Steps were taken to rid the locality of these dangerous creatures.