One-year-old boy died, and 23 others are missing in Malawi after a hippopotamus smashed into a canoe and capsized it.
On Monday, the hippo smashed into the long wooden canoe that was ferrying 37 people from the Shire River to Mozambique. The incident occurred in the Nsanje District.
Authorities report that thirteen people were saved.
Police spokeswoman Agnes Zalakoma stated that the 23 missing people are believed to be dead, as the search for them has lasted more than 24 hour.
Abida Ma, the minister of government in charge of animal welfare and conservation, said that locals had informed her that hippos were a problem in the area. They also asked for the authorities to move some animals.
According to the wildlife charity WWF, hippos can weigh up to 8,000Ibs. They are the second heaviest animal on land after elephants.
Between 115,000 and 300.000 hippos live in the wild in sub-Saharan Africa, mostly in rivers and in lakes.
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