“The hippopotamus is one of the flagship species of the Virunga ecosystems. Its disappearance could lead to a major disruption of aquatic ecosystems, as these animals play a role in the exchange of matter between terrestrial and aquatic environments,”

Joel Mbusa Mapoli · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-02

Mapoli warned that the disappearance of hippos could cause major disruption to aquatic ecosystems in Virunga.