Across Southern Africa, drought-stricken hippos are resorting to dreadful measures to fill their achingly empty bellies.

Credit: de Wets Wild

In Botswana, these normally herbivorous animals are so hungry, they have been eating the rotting carcass of a dead cow. But somehow, it gets worse.

In the Motopi region, a herd of hippos was seen eating excrement to fill their bellies… and then one of their own – a hippo that had become trapped in the sticky mud of a near-dry waterhole. The hippo was literally being eaten alive – THAT is how desperate the situation is.

Right now, 88 animals are starving to death.

Credit: MAWS

Our partner in Botswana, Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS), has launched a vital assistance program for animals affected by this horrific drought, providing much-needed food and water.

MAWS has now expanded the program to feed 13 hippos and 75 other animals who require immediate help.

“Hungry, hungry animals… They are dropping like flies, we have calls every day about horses, donkeys and cows [falling] down and unable to get up. Starving to death or having eaten plastic bags in desperation.” – Equine Assist, Maun

MAWS needs good quality bales, pellets, quick beet supplements, and lucerne – anything with high nutritional value – to help feed the animals, and they need it right away.

Time is of the essence. These animals are eating plastic, rubbish and worse – and they are getting sicker, weaker, and ever closer to a slow, premature death.

For just $48 (£38), you can feed a starving animal for a month.

If we can raise $4,200 (around £3,300), we can feed all 88 animals for an entire month, including hippos, donkeys, horses and other starving creatures.

Credit: MAWS

Every $48 (£38) you donate feeds an animal for a month – hopefully, buying enough time until the rains come in late December.

Botswana’s rainy season was supposed to start in November, but the rains never came. No one knows when the drought will break. We have to help until the rains finally arrive. Please, will you be the lifeline for 88 starving animals?