Hippo Attack in Kavango West Leaves Teen Injured
By Aneli Fura
An 18-year-old man was seriously injured on Wednesday afternoon after a hippopotamus attacked two teenagers while they were fishing in the Kapako constituency.
The incident occurred around 16h00 on 24 September 2025, when the animal struck the canoe they were using, forcing both victims into the water. In the commotion, the hippo bit 18-year-old Manfred Nairenge on his left leg and the right side of his ribs after he became trapped on nearby rocks.
His companion, 16-year-old Haingura Daniel Muyenga, managed to escape the attack unharmed.
Nairenge was rushed to the Bunya Health Centre before being transferred to Rundu State Hospital, where he is receiving further medical treatment.
Authorities have since launched an investigation into the circumstances of the attack. Hippo encounters are not uncommon in the Kavango regions, where communities often rely on river activities such as fishing and transportation.
