Hippos once roamed in Gunungkidul: Scientists

Hippos once roamed in Gunungkidul: Scientists

The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Scientists have found evidence that hippopotamuses once lived
in Gunungkidul, a barren highland regency which suffers water
shortages every dry season.

In July they discovered fossils believed to be the teeth and
knuckle bones of a hippopotamus that lived 7,880 years ago. The
animal's remains were found in Sengok cave in Playen subdistrict.

"It was hard to believe we found the remains of a hippopotamus
in Gunungkidul until testing conducted by Gadjah Mada
University's laboratory of biology and paleoanthropology
confirmed our theory," archeologist Susetyo Edy Yuwono,
coordinator of the research project, said on Tuesday.

The conclusion has been supported by another laboratory test
at the Center of Archeological Research and Development in
Bandung.

Susetyo said the discovery of the hippopotamus fossils
provided further evidence that Gunung Kidul had been a prosperous
area in the past.

Last year, researchers found remains of stone coffins in the
Gunung Bang area of Karangmojo subdistrict that showed Gunung
Kidul had been a center of civilization in the prehistoric age.

"This means that drastic ecological damage occurred in
Gunungkidul, making the area dry and infertile as we see now," he
said.