Africa has never been short on animal stories. The story of Huberta, however, is close to many Zululanders hearts. She not only originated from our area, but played a significant role in the history of KwaZulu Natal by being the focus of worldwide attention. Huberta's great trek made headline news all over the world and today she is the subject of a number of books.
Huberta was the hippopotamus who enjoyed a two and a half-year period of celebrity status during the late twenties. The reason she became famous was that, unlike all other sociable hippos that stay with the herd and never consider a nomadic existence, Huberta decided to strike out on her own. One day she set off from her home in Zululand and trekked South. Over the period of her wanderings, she covered a distance of some 1200km. She was entirely alone, except for the reporters and sightseers who kept track of her progress, as nobody knew why she was walking or where she was heading.
Many Zulus regarded her as a reincarnation of Shaka. This belief was reinforced by the sudden death, by rockfall, of two members of the tribe who had laughed and thrown stones at her. The Indians in Natal also regarded her as a mystical reincarnation and worshipped her in the temples. Sadly, however, not everyone held Huberta in such high esteem, and four farmers, who saw her as nothing but a trespasser, shot and killed her at the Keiskamma River near King Williamstown.
So, our Huberta met her tragic death in a hail of bullets. But .... Her story lives on, as she touched the lives of many with her antics - not least of them a stroll down Durban's West Street on April 1, 1929, on her way South.
Huberta's body was preserved and stands today in the Kaffrarian Museum in King Williamstown.
A special committee has been formed by the Richards Bay Tourism Association to research Huberta's historic journey, which started from the Mhlathuze lagoon in Richards Bay, and to come up with the appropriate ways of honouring "South Africa's favourite hippo".
The Zululand Expo committee has therefore decided to use Huberta as our mascot for the Expo. Watch out for her throughout the Expo and experience for yourselves the story of Huberta the Hippo, who has touched the lives of both young and old through the decades.
FACTS ON HUBERTA
1. Huberta was born in 1927 in the area of Richards Bay in Zululand.
2. Huberta's first appearance was on 22 November 1928 at New Gulderland north of Stanger, when she upset an Indian homestead.
3. In January 1929 she was seen in Tongaat - asleep on a one-way bridge.
4. In February 1929 she settled in the Umhlanga lagoon for the entire month.
5. Huberta arrived in Durban in March 1929.
6. On 1 April 1929 she decided to go window-shopping in Durban's West street.
7. Port St Johns was her next stop where she wallowed in the Umzimbuvo river.
8. An engine's cowcatcher was used to ease Huberta out of the way from a railway line in the Nahoon Valley near East London, during 1931.
9. In February 1931 the Bloemfontein Zoo sent out a party to attempt to catch Huberta - which was unsuccessful.
10. March 1931 - Huberta arrives in East London.
11. 23 April 1931 - Her carcass was found floating in the Keiskamma river.
12. 21 May 1931 - The farmers made a voluntary statement regarding her shooting. They were fined 25 pounds each.
13. In excess of 20 000 people visited the temporary exhibition in Durban where Huberta was mounted.
14. Huberta takes pride of place in the Kaffrarian Museum at King Williams Town.
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