This is what can happen when a boat full of tourists invade the territory of a hippopotamus: it is their space not ours (Video)

Video captured by a tourist aboard a boat in northern Botswana showed the heart-pounding moment the vessel had to outrun a charging hippo.

Oznur Bell, who took the video, was on the boat Sunday with her three children and a close friend as they traveled between camps during their stay in Botswana, she told NBC News.

“It was one of the most terrifying moments I’ve ever experienced,” Oznur said. “Once he started charging after us, the adrenaline was unbelievable.”

A video shows a hippopotamus jumping in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, on Sunday.Oznur Bell

One of the journey’s guides, who was operating the vessel, spotted the hippo and slowed the boat in an attempt not to disturb it, Oznur said. The vessel had just come upon an elephant, and she had her phone out when the hippo appeared, she said.

“I happened to have my phone in my hand because I was filming it,” Oznur said of the elephant. “By pure luck, I never put my phone away, which is the only reason I was able to capture what happened next on camera.”

The guide quickly realized the hippo had been provoked despite his efforts, she said.

She continued, “The moment we accelerated, we looked back and realized the hippo was chasing us.”

Her video, posted to her Instagram account, shows the massive mammal extending its head and upper body out of the water in a marvel of propulsion that looks similar to a human breaststroke. The boat created a wake as it sped off and its operator smiled nervously.

“You can actually see the smiles on the guides’ faces, not because it was funny, but because it was a smile of pure relief,” Oznur said. “For a few moments, every single person in the boat was genuinely worried.”

It was a rare moment Oznur said she was glad she captured on video.

“Afterwards, the guides told us that although hippos are known to be extremely territorial, witnessing a chase like this is not something they see very often,” she said. “They said we had experienced a truly extraordinary encounter.”

Hippos, which are herbivores, are the third-largest land animal after elephants and white rhinos and can weigh as much as 8,000 pounds. Despite their mass, the mammals do know how to accelerate in water and on land.

“They have adaptations to their semi-aquatic environments allowing them to move swiftly on both water and land,” states the African Wildlife Foundation. “Their feet have four-webbed toes that splay out to distribute weight evenly and therefore adequately support them on land, and their short legs provide powerful propulsion through the water.”

The number of fatal encounters between hippos and humans is not known, but they’re estimated to cause a minimum of 500 deaths each year.

One of hippos’ biggest threats is human encroachment, according to the World Wildlife Fund, which lists the hippo as “vulnerable” but not endangered.

“I feel incredibly lucky that I happened to be filming,” Oznur said, “because otherwise this extraordinary encounter would have lived only in our memories.”

Nollaig O'Connor and Dennis Romero

Two animal welfare organisations in the spotlight: 'Animal Heroes' helping wildlife survive in Spain and 'Dogs Voice in Greece during the raging fires

 Help animals survive the wildfires in Spain

Support animals suffering from wildfires in Spain www.animalheroes.eu

The devastating wildfires around Madrid and Ávila are destroying habitats and leaving thousands of animals without food or shelter.

Alexandra Leiton Endara is a local and is coordinating the emergency response together with the local council and volunteers from four villages around Ávila, one of the areas hardest hit by the fires. They have established a central collection point where urgently needed supplies are received and distributed to the affected areas according to need.

Our team will travel to the emergency response centre on Sunday to deliver food for wildlife and working animals.

With your donation, we will purchase food and other essential supplies locally for the animals affected by the fires.

The most urgent needs are:

• Bird seed and seed mixes for wild birds.
• Feed for rabbits and other small herbivores.
• Feed for farm animals, including goats, sheep, cows, donkeys and horses.
• Milk replacer for orphaned and rescued young animals.
• Hay, straw and alfalfa for grazing animals.
• Fruit and vegetables for herbivores and wildlife.
• Corn, grain and acorns for wild boar and deer.
• Salt licks for grazing wildlife and livestock.

Our team covers all travel and accommodation costs ourselves. This means that 100% of your donation goes directly towards purchasing emergency food and supplies for animals affected by the wildfires.

Every donation, no matter the size, helps provide life-saving support to animals struggling to survive this disaster.

How can you donate?

Donating is safe, fast, and easy. There are no obligations: you can choose to make a one-time donation. You can make a donation in a few simple steps. After a successful donation, you will receive a donation receipt by email.

Help animals survive the wildfires in Spain - Animal Heroes

                            🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏  

Another fantastic animal welfare organisation : Dogs Voice in Greece

https://www.dogsvoice.gr/      GREECE 

Devastating wildfires have been raging across Europe, and in western Attica, Greece 

An extraordinary rescue mission unfolded for animals caught in the path of the flames. The dedicated team at Dogs’ Voice, joined by veterinarians, municipalities, emergency responders, volunteers, and partner animal welfare organizations, worked tirelessly to bring companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife to safety.

Dogs’ Voice launched its emergency response in Porto Germeno on July 31 as wildfires closed in on homes and communities. Animals were trapped in huts and on properties while rescue teams raced to locate and save the many stray animals scattered throughout the fire-ravaged area.

As the emergency expanded, teams responded across Porto Germeno, Vilia, Megara, Psatha, Prosili, Kryo Pogadi, Agios Nektarios, and surrounding communities.

From frightened dogs and cats to puppies, kittens, geese, chickens, a rescued lamb, farm animals, and wildlife, rescuers searched homes, neighborhoods, and fire-ravaged landscapes, giving vulnerable animals a chance to escape the fires and reach safety.

To support the growing rescue effort, emergency animal rescue stations were established in Vilia and Megara, where displaced animals received temporary shelter, veterinary care, and a safe place to recover while volunteers worked to identify them, reunite companion animals with their families, and arrange foster placements when needed.

Dogs’ Voice described the severity of the emergency, writing:

“The fire is out of control and has now been classified as a mega fire, so new arrivals are expected and the station is on standby to welcome animals that will be in danger in the affected areas.”

During the initial response, the Vilia station recorded 46 companion animals, while another nine animals were transferred to municipal facilities. The station also received two geese and five chickens. Dogs’ Voice reported seeing frightened animals running frantically through the fire-affected area, but in some cases volunteers and firefighters were forced to retreat as conditions became too dangerous.

By the third consecutive day of the response, the rescue stations in Vilia and Megara had already received more than 145 animals. During one particularly dramatic rescue, 12 dogs were safely evacuated from a house that was completely destroyed by fire a short time later.

As the emergency continued, the scale of the rescue effort grew. According to Dogs’ Voice’s latest update, the organization documented:

• 133 companion animals at the Megara Station

• 75 companion animals at the Vilia Station

• 63 farm animals and wildlife

• Six animals receiving veterinary treatment

Heartbreaking images shared by Dogs’ Voice show frightened dogs waiting quietly in evacuation crates, rescued puppies and cats wrapped safely in volunteers’ arms, farm animals receiving care, and exhausted animals finally able to rest after escaping the flames. The photographs offer a powerful glimpse into both the devastation of the disaster and the extraordinary compassion of those risking their lives to save them.

Dogs’ Voice also shared that many of the rescued animals had spent years surviving on their own, fearful of human contact and largely unseen. As the wildfire closed in, many finally allowed rescuers to approach, giving them the opportunity to provide safety, medical care, and compassion—some for the very first time.

Emphasizing that rescue is only the beginning of recovery, the organization wrote:

“A new beginning doesn’t just start if an animal is adopted. It starts from the moment it enters a home, from the first day of its shelter life.”

Reflecting on the extraordinary efforts of rescuers and volunteers, Dogs’ Voice added:

“Every life that comes out alive through the ashes is a small victory over destruction. And we will continue to be there, as long as there is at least one soul waiting for help.”

As rescue operations continued, the organization’s teams were called back to Psatha, where the advancing fire front threatened animals still trapped in huts, while additional rescued animals continued arriving at the Megara Station.

Throughout the emergency response, Greece’s National Mechanism was activated to support the coordinated rescue effort.

As conditions began to stabilize in some areas, Dogs’ Voice announced that the Vilia Station would stop accepting new animals if conditions remained stable. The Megara Station, however, would remain operational as rescue efforts continued.

Rescued animals have since been transferred into veterinary care, foster homes, partner rescue organizations, wildlife rehabilitation centers, and collaborating shelters. Dogs’ Voice has also launched a foster placement initiative for animals that have not yet been reunited with their caretakers or guardians.

Although the organization’s immediate supply needs have largely been met thanks to overwhelming public support, the mission is far from over. Dogs’ Voice is now encouraging compassionate families to open their homes to rescued animals awaiting foster placement as recovery efforts continue.

As western Attica begins the long road to recovery, Dogs’ Voice remains committed to rescuing every animal possible, reuniting families whenever they can, and ensuring rescued animals have the opportunity to find the safe future they deserve.

The organization closed one of its updates with a heartfelt appeal:

“This devastating fire may finally be extinguished, but our efforts continue. If you can open your home now is the time. For those, it can mean everything.”

World Animal News and Peace 4 Animals applaud the extraordinary courage and dedication of the Dogs’ Voice rescue team, veterinarians, firefighters, emergency responders, municipalities, partner organizations, and every volunteer working tirelessly to save animals throughout this devastating disaster. Our thoughts and prayers remain with everyone affected and with every animal beginning the long journey toward recovery.

Please consider supporting the lifesaving work of the incredible animal rescue organization Dogs’ Voice. Your donation helps rescue and care for animals affected by these devastating wildfires. DONATE HERE! 

Dear readers of my blog. unless your are living in Greece or you understand how giving a donation works in Greece, the situation to donate is difficult. I have tried the option PayPal with no success Sorry. Animal Heroes is a Dutch organisation well known and completely trustworthy. The volunteers are in Spain to help.

More than 1,600 live primates listed for sale online in a 6 week period for $250 to $6,500 : transactions as ''rehoming" or "adoption" avoiding the words "for sale"l

 

• A new report by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and World Wildlife Fund found more than 1,600 live primates listed for sale on U.S. social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube over a six-week period in mid-2025.
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• Sellers circumvented platform bans by disguising commercial transactions as “rehoming” or “adoption” efforts, with prices for the 12 documented species, including macaques and marmosets, ranging from $250 to $6,500.
• Many advertised primates were infants, who are often stolen from their mothers in the wild, leading to severe trauma or death during smuggling and contributing to the 60 percent of primate species globally threatened with extinction.
• While TikTok and Google (YouTube) said they prohibit wildlife trafficking and have taken action, experts warn that this accessible online market fuels animal cruelty, biodiversity loss, zoonotic diseases, and other illicit crimes, ranking wildlife trafficking among the top black markets.
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  Marmoset baby monkey for sale
• The report recommends passing the federal Captive Primate Safety Act, urging social media companies to expand prohibited content policies and improve detection and reporting tools, and calling for increased funding and specialized personnel for state and federal enforcement agencies to combat this digital trade.
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• Source: Jasmine Fernández 
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In full

• Monkey Business: Primate sales over social media are on the rise across the US, report reveals

Safe Haven for Donkeys: a weekly update from the West Bank with 5 heartwarming photo's

 

The road blocks My heart breaks for these animals. The donkey is so thin......  You may remember that I recently shared an update from our Nablus team in the West Bank, who were forced to turn back from a trip to Senjil, due to road blocks. But they were determined not to let the day go to waste. The team quickly changed course and travelled through several villages before reaching Mazare’ Al Nobani, near Ramallah. By the end of the day, they had provided much-needed care to 31 working donkeys and horses. Here’s an update on what happened - made possible thanks to your support. Kindest regards, Wendy Safe Haven UK Office An update from the West Bank One of the first animals the team treated was a donkey who was struggling to walk after spending several weeks in a cramped and uncomfortable shelter. He had been living alongside a horse in a small space with a rocky, uneven floor. Over time, the poor conditions had taken their toll. He was dehydrated, his muscles had become stiff and painful and he could no longer walk comfortably. Dr Rakan provided urgent care to this donkey, who was severely dehydrated and struggling to walk. Respect for the vet's helper holding the intravenous bottle. That will take 45 minutes After receiving fluids and pain relief, the donkey was also fitted with a soft new head collar. During their visits, they still find donkeys and horses wearing nose chains. These heavy chains can cut into the skin, cause painful pressure sores and, over time, lead to lasting damage. Whenever the team finds an unsuitable chain, they remove it and replace it with a soft, properly fitted one, or hand made padded covers, helping owners guide their animals safely without causing unnecessary pain. A new head collar may seem like a small change, but it can make a huge difference to a working animal’s comfort every day. Dr Rakan also makes practical changes like this - replacing harsh chains with soft, properly fitted head collars. Thank You Erna  Your support helps our veterinary teams reach working donkeys, horses and mules with the treatment and medicines they urgently need. It also allows them to work alongside owners, making practical changes that can prevent further pain and suffering. Thank you for helping these gentle animals live healthier and more comfortable lives. Help our vet teams reach more donkeys Thanks to your support, our mobile teams can provide urgent veterinary care while also helping owners prevent future suffering. If you'd like to read previous updates of our work, please click here to visit out blog. You can also view today's update online by clicking here. Registered charity number 1083468