Brutus the hippo, the founding bull of Rondevlei Nature Reserve’s herd, has died at the age of 47. City of Cape Town staff discovered the dominant male during a routine patrol in the Rondevlei section of the False Bay Nature Reserve on Thursday, 13 November 2025, according to the City’s Biodiversity Management Branch.
The carcass was removed from the vlei and a veterinarian conducted a postmortem on Friday, 14 November 2025. Initial findings showed no signs of trauma, injury or infectious disease and indicated a natural, age-related cause of death. Tissue samples have been sent for further analysis, the City said. Brutus was still producing offspring until recently and was widely known as Rondevlei’s first reintroduced hippo.
Captured in Zululand at around three years old and transported by road, Brutus arrived at Rondevlei on 20 November 1981. He became the first hippopotamus reintroduced to the Western Cape in roughly 300 years. This is according to historical accounts shared by reserve staff and visitors.
Urban Conservation Icon Leaves Lasting Legacy
Brutus the hippo formed the core of a small population introduced to control Vleigras. This invasive South American grass threatened to smother the wetland’s shoreline. The hippos rapidly opened up reed beds and now feed mainly on indigenous buffalo grass, remaining Vleigras and kikuyu.
Deputy mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews described Brutus as a long-standing dominant male. He said the City was “sad about not having him around anymore”, according to the City of Cape Town. After his death, the Rondevlei pod consists of five hippos, including one young bull. Officials are considering options to introduce a new male.
Over the decades, Brutus fathered animals that were relocated to other reserves across the Western Cape. This includes Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve earlier in 2025. The Rondevlei herd has also drawn steady tourism interest and occasional rescue operations. Younger animals sometimes strayed beyond the reserve.
City Weighs Next Steps for Rondevlei Hippos
The City of Cape Town and conservation staff continue to monitor hippo welfare and the health of the vlei. Officials say hippos remain vital to maintaining biodiversity in the wetland system. They serve as important educational and tourism assets for the metro.
Online tributes from regular visitors and nearby residents describe Brutus the hippo as a defining presence at Rondevlei. He is also seen as a symbol of Cape Town’s urban wildlife conservation efforts.
