In a bold and carefully coordinated operation, a young hippo bull from Cape Town's False Bay Nature Reserve has been safely relocated to his new home in Plettenberg Bay, following a 17-hour journey that tested planning, patience and precision, Cape town Etc reports.
The four-year-old animal, known for his territorial nature, was moved to prevent conflict with other dominant males and to avoid the risk of him straying into nearby communities. The Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve, his new home, offers a safer, more spacious environment with ample water and an existing hippo population for social integration.
The City of Cape Town's Biodiversity Management branch spearheaded the relocation, describing it as one of their most logistically demanding wildlife translocations to date. From constructing a custom capture boma and transport crate to securing permits and engaging veterinary specialists, the months-long planning culminated in a successful overnight move.
The operation kicked off on the afternoon of 22 July 2025 when the hippo was tranquilised and secured inside the crate. A crane hoisted the massive container onto a flatbed truck, which departed from Cape Town just before 11pm. By 8:30am the following morning, the vehicle had reached its destination in the Western Cape's Garden Route, with the hippo safe and in stable condition.
Since his arrival, the animal has been monitored closely in a separate dam, giving him time to adjust before being introduced to the local pod. Experts note that hippos are highly sensitive to stress and temperature shifts, making such relocations complex and risky for both the animal and the team involved.