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Angry hippo attacks vet, then shot dead at South Africa park
Digital Journal ^
| 11/
Posted on 11/15/2010 8:16:21 PM PST by Joe 6-pack
A veterinarian is lucky to be alive after the hippopotamus he was testing a new sedative on woke up and attacked him. The hippo was not so lucky, however.
The 3.5 ton hippopotamus lived in South Africa's Kruger National Park and was being experimented on by Dr Markus Hofmeyr with a new kind of sedative for animals.
Sky News reported that the tranquilizer the vets normally used was too strong for hippos because it was made for elephants and rhinos. The hippos would often drown with that sedative because their heads would fall under the water.
According to The Sun, Dr Hofmeyr's colleague Dr Nico de Bruin pulled him out of the way of the angry hippo after it lunged at the men and knocked Hofmeyr into the river.
"The animal snapped in our direction and came for us," Dr Hofmeyr told Sky News.
A gamekeeper shot and killed the hippo when it went after the men again as they were scrambling to get away.
Dr Hofmeyr said: "We think the hippo was woken by water up its nose. We'll muzzle these animals in future."
Amazing photos of the hippo attack can be seen here.
TOPICS: Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Travel; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: attack; hippo
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To: shibumi
41
posted on
11/15/2010 11:54:54 PM PST
by
Salamander
(I may be lonely but I'm never alone...and the nights may pass me by....but I never cry.....)
To: Joe 6-pack
next time, maybe try a hippo that’s on land already?
42
posted on
11/15/2010 11:55:25 PM PST
by
blueplum
To: Joe 6-pack; JoeProBono; shibumi
“”We think the hippo was woken by water up its nose. We’ll muzzle these animals in future.””
Technically, wouldn’t that be considered just cheerfully *drowning* them?
[Hippomuzzle would be a cool punk rock band name, as if anyone asked]
43
posted on
11/15/2010 11:59:33 PM PST
by
Salamander
(I may be lonely but I'm never alone...and the nights may pass me by....but I never cry.....)
To: shibumi
Hippolarva.
[another cool band name]
44
posted on
11/16/2010 12:00:22 AM PST
by
Salamander
(I may be lonely but I'm never alone...and the nights may pass me by....but I never cry.....)
To: 50mm
Hippadillos.
[cool band name, lather, rinse, repeat]
45
posted on
11/16/2010 12:01:30 AM PST
by
Salamander
(I may be lonely but I'm never alone...and the nights may pass me by....but I never cry.....)
To: Joe 6-pack
46
posted on
11/16/2010 12:02:45 AM PST
by
Salamander
(I may be lonely but I'm never alone...and the nights may pass me by....but I never cry.....)
To: Joe 6-pack
Pitpos?
Sweetest....uh....”things” in the world.
47
posted on
11/16/2010 12:04:58 AM PST
by
Salamander
(I may be lonely but I'm never alone...and the nights may pass me by....but I never cry.....)
To: 50mm
CHET99 LIVES!
48
posted on
11/16/2010 2:10:43 AM PST
by
Tainan
(Cogito, ergo conservatus - Domari Nolo)
49
posted on
11/16/2010 3:35:20 AM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
To: Tainan
That would make a great name for the pit hippo! Chet it is!
50
posted on
11/16/2010 3:39:51 AM PST
by
50mm
(I don't use drugs, my dreams are frightening enough.)
To: Salamander
[cool band name, lather, rinse, repeat]Easier to remember than Pitapotamus. That's important for marketing.
51
posted on
11/16/2010 3:53:00 AM PST
by
50mm
(I don't use drugs, my dreams are frightening enough.)
To: Joe 6-pack
Who will stop the madness? It says they waterboarded that hippo. What did they expect?
52
posted on
11/17/2010 1:20:49 PM PST
by
decimon
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