Over 80 buffaloes have died in a tragic incident in Namibia after plunging into a river while fleeing predators, authorities have confirmed.
The herd, chased by lions from neighbouring Botswana, fell from a steep cliff into the Chobe River on the Namibian side, according to the environment and tourism department.
Such events are not uncommon in the region.
Past incidents have claimed hundreds of buffaloes, including a notable case in 2018 when around 400 buffaloes drowned after running into the river, which cuts through Botswana's Chobe National Park, a hotspot for elephants, buffaloes, and giraffes.
Mbeha Tadeus, an official at Namibia's Kabulabula Conservancy, explained the chain of events. "Whenever they are chased by lions, they try to cross over into Namibia and start [trampling over] each other," he said.
Confirming the origin of the animals, a spokesperson for Namibia's Environment, Forestry and Tourism Ministry, Ndeshipanda Hamunyela, said the buffaloes came from Botswana, though it was unclear if they originated from Chobe National Park.
She added that the meat from the dead animals would be "distributed to communities in the immediate area."
Footage shared by the Namibian public broadcaster NBC showed local residents dividing the meat near the riverbanks.
NBC reported that approximately 90 buffaloes were killed in the incident, which occurred around 05:00 local time (07:00 GMT).
