500 buffalo drown

At least 400 Cape Buffalo died in a stampede in the Chobe River last night in a desperate attempt to escape a pack of lions close on their heels.
Environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda confirmed the incident and said MET staff are at the site to investigate and begin removal of the carcasses.
Simone Micheletti of Serondela Lodge, situated near the site where the incident took place, told Namibian Sun that it is believed the panicked herd of buffalo tried to cross the river from Botswana’s side to reach the Namibian shore to escape the lions snapping at their heels.
He said the spot where the buffalo tried to cross was unfortunately filled with several high sand banks, forcing the animals into a narrow funnel where they trampled each other and drowned.
He said staff and guests at Serondela lodge could hear a large number of lions roaring in the area last night.
It is likely he said, from a visual scan of the incident area, that as many as 500 animals drowned.
Muyanda said the final number of dead buffalo will be confirmed at a later stage but that some carcasses will likely already have floated away.
He further explained that staff are still considering how to remove the carcasses but that they will likely be burnt as the most preferred method of disposal.
JANA-MARI SMITH