Hippopotamus trap

A hippopotamus trap on the River Shire, photographed by Sir John Kirk, January (?) 1859.

Sir John's own description:

'This consists of a log of wood, 9-10ft long with a poisoned iron spike, suspended over the track. It is released by pulling a string so that it pierces the beast and eventually kills it by the poison.'

NLS shelfmark: Acc.9942

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