Capybara Attacked by Hippo Dies at Zoo

My Earthlink.net & AP ^ | August 17, 2007 | Unknown

[decimon]

GULF BREEZE, Fla. - A Capybara at a Florida Panhandle zoo died after it was attacked by an adult hippopotamus, zoo officials said Thursday.

The Capybara, a large aquatic rodent, died last week at The Zoo Northwest Florida, just a month after a baby hippo was fatally attacked by an adult hippo. It is not known if the same hippo killed the Capybara last week because no one witnessed the animal's death, the zoo's veterinarian Dr. Gus Mueller said.

The adult hippo bit the Capybara, causing severe injuries to its rear end and stomach areas, Mueller said.

"It was a terrible, terrible wound," Mueller said. "But that's what hippos do."

Also in July, an adult giraffe died after sustaining a neck injury at the zoo. The Capybara, called Capy, is the seventh death at the zoo since January.

The Zoo Northwest Florida also has reported financial problems recently. Besides the deaths of several popular animals, the zoo faces a $3 million debt exacerbated by back-to-back hurricanes.

---

Information from: Northwest Florida Daily News, http://www.nwfdailynews.com

[decimon]

"But that's what hippos do."

Well, if you knew that then did it occur to you to keep the animals separated?

[Slump Tester]

"It is not known if the same hippo killed the Capybara last week because no one witnessed the animal's death, the zoo's veterinarian Dr. Gus Mueller said."

No one but the Capybara, but now it sleeps with the fishes.

[nmh]

I don’t understand this ... separate the animals ... even if based on suspicion.

[Spok]

Hippo’s kill more people in Africa than any other animal. I’d be reluctant to put any smaller animal in with them.

[capt. norm]

Even a friendly nip from a hippo can be bad news. They never play nice.

[Lizavetta]

the seventh death at the zoo since January.

Who's running this place, Inspector Clouseau?

[grjr21]

Monica ?

[Westlander]

U B Bad. LOL

[Shermy]

The hippo is being framed by a rhino named Dreyfus.

[capt. norm]

If Monica had that big a mouth, her escapade with Slick Willie would go down as the biggest over-kill in history.

[decimon]

Who's running this place, Inspector Clouseau?

No, but he's investigating the deaths.

[PAR35]

My suggestion would be to replace the Capybara with a Chupacabra. THAT would straighten out the Hippo.

[CommerceComet]

Hippo’s kill more people in Africa than any other animal. I’d be reluctant to put any smaller animal in with them.

Bull hippos have been known to cut 12' crocodiles in half with one bite. Plus, they are extremely territorial, extremely irritable, and very nervous when outside of their water sanctuary. In other words, everything should leave the hippos to hell alone. They may attack at any time for no reason apparent to anyone but them.

[decimon]

My suggestion would be to replace the Capybara with a Chupacabra. THAT would straighten out the Hippo.

Yeah, but if they mate then you'd have hippacabras running around.

[martin_fierro]

My suggestion would be to replace the Capybara with a Chupacabra. THAT would straighten out the Hippo.
Yeah, but if they mate then you'd have hippacabras running around.

Monkeys and Hippos: DEADLY combination.

[Spok]

I hunted the Transvaal a year ago, and our hunter cautioned us about being on the river bank (the Limpopo) especially at dawn. Hippos forage on land as far as several kilometers at night, and if they’re returning to the river and you’re caught between them and the water, they’ll panic and charge. When they’re in the water, they never take their eyes off of you. Someone once said that they look at you like you owe them money.

[JRios1968]

[Old_Mil]

My suggestion would be to replace the Capybara with a Chupacabra. THAT would straighten out the Hippo.



...it might, though the Hippo will still have a big size advantage.

[USNBandit]

Well, if you knew that then did it occur to you to keep the animals separated?

One would wonder why you would have an animal from South America in an enclosure with an animal from Africa, anyway.