A hippo from the City has been successfully relocated. Officials from the Biodiversity Management branch announced that the four-year-old hippo bull safely arrived at the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve, its new home, on 23 July.

“I was told that our team planned this translocation over many months, inclusive of finalising the legal agreements, permits, appropriate transport and specialist equipment,” said Alderman Andrews.

A hippo from the City has been successfully relocated

The four-year-old hippo bull was relocated from the False Bay Nature Reserve to a reserve in Plettenberg Bay. Those who took part in the relocation say it was a 17-hour-long operation. It required a boma, a crane, a flatbed truck, highly experienced staff, expert veterinarian services, a lot of patience and months of planning.

Alderman Andrews said, “The Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve provides a suitable and secure habitat for hippos with adequate space, water resources, and an existing hippo population where he can fit in.”

Cape Town hippo finds a new home in Plettenberg Bay

The City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews, says the hippo was relocated to prevent potential conflict with other males in the reserve. He says there was also the potential of the hippo dispersing into surrounding areas, risking nearby communities and himself.

“The success is a result of meticulous planning, collaboration with external partners, and using appropriate capture and transport methods.”

He added, “The City has, over the past 10 years or so, successfully translocated three hippos as part of our ongoing wildlife management efforts.”

Hippos are very sensitive animals

He says hippos are very sensitive animals, and notoriously difficult to capture and transport. This is because of their size, strength, potentially dangerous nature and sensitivity to stress. Andrews added that these types of operations are fraught with risks such as capture stress and overheating, cold stress during winter, injury, and logistical challenges. He elaborated that the staff involved are also at risk, and this is where experience and professionalism count the most.

Details about the translocation:

• The hippo was captured using a combination of a specially designed capture boma and transport crate, and wildlife veterinary tranquilisation to ensure the animal’s safety and to minimise stress
• He was captured at around 16:00 on 22 July 2025, and the operation carried on into the night to align with cooler and safer overnight transport to the game reserve
• A crane was used to load the container onto a flatbed truck, which departed at approximately 22:45 and arrived at the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve at 08:30 the following morning. The journey was smooth
• Since his arrival, the hippo has been spending his time in a separate dam where he is closely monitored to allow him to acclimatise and gradually integrate into the resident hippo pod

Alderman Andrews said, “‘The staff from the False Bay Nature Reserve and other technical staff who assisted with the building of the container and the capturing are extremely grateful for the successful translocation.”