A wildlife official in South Sudan’s Western Bahr al Ghazal State has accused armed groups of killing one of the oldest hippopotamus near Jur River earlier this week.

Wildlife Director Brigadier Mabior Urung Urac said a hippo believed to be 40 years old was shot dead earlier this week.

Mabior pointed out that the hippo was shot with three bullets in a remote area in the south of the county. He added that this is the second hippo killed in Jur River in less than three years.

He cautioned that the killing of these animals may displace them from the area. The wildlife officer noted there are only about 15 hippos in the state. He called on citizens to preserve animals.