Posted on 04/29/2010 12:22:03 PM PDT by JoeProBono
Bamako, Mali - An enraged hippopotamus killed a teenager and caused panic in several villages in the northern part of Mali, located along the bank of River Niger, the Malian Press Agency (AMAP) reported Monday.
The victim, aged 16, was playing on the river bank along with another youth from one of the villages, when a female hippopotamus suddenly appeared from the river, a few metres from them.
The animal, which had remained immersed in the river for a long time, suddenly attacked the two teenagers, according to an eyewitness.
The animal seized the victim by the leg and dragged him deeper into the river. He died a few minutes later from his injuries.
Residents of the villages said the hippopotamus was enraged because it had just lost its new-born offspring.
The many documentaries about African wildlife I've seen all say that hippos are,in fact,herbivores and only attack when they think their young are in danger or when you come between them and their home lake/pond/river...which,I assume,they see as a threat.
Just say UNGAWA if you are ever confronted by one,always works for Tarzan..;>)
My sister tried to get me to date a hippo once.
Yep they are herbivores, yet so deadly, much like the rhino. If I am not mistaken there is an african buffalo of some sort, also an herbivore, and also one of africa’s deadliest animals.
Awww, the one on the right is so adorable!
The one on the left can difinetely keep that pumpkin though.
Insects do kill the most people in Africa but for purposes of this discussion, I thought it clear that animals meant those within the superphylum of deuterostomia.
Hippo-cide. At least it wasn’t an aardvark.
That a hippo race or a racist hippo....?
He will kill you graveyard dead if you give him reason and a chance.
Re photo in Post 17: Looks more like he’s out for a jog with his obedient hippo at heel.
That is exactly the one.
I had seen an amazing episode of “I Shouldn’t be Alive” about a boat that overturned in an african river. One person attempted to swim to shore, but he was badly maulded by a croc.
He lay by a tree on the shore slowly dying. During one of the nights, one of these buffalo walked right up to him. he thought he was going to die, but the buffalo layed down about 10 ft from him, which was apparently so far beyond their normal behavior in the presence of a human. At some point, the man fell asleep. He woke up the next day alive and covered head to toe in driver ants, but the buffalo had gone.
From the way this story was presented, it almost seemed like the buffalo guarded him during the night, but can’t be sure on that.
That reminds me
I have not called my mother in law
Like a pit bull on steroids...hippos kill more africans than any other animal....
Wasn’t my dog, so no.
Saw on at the zoo and it sent my kids into gales of laughter...hippo do not poop in the water as I understand it...but they can sent it 10 foot using their tails as the throwing item...
EEEEEP!
Dangerous critters. I used to have a stuffed hippo named Andrew.
While on safari we came across a rhino in a national park.It was right out in the open but the guide wouldn't go any closer than about 300-400 yards because he said that rhinos *do* charge Land Rovers and when they do *they* win.Pretty scary to me.
If I am not mistaken there is an african buffalo of some sort, also an herbivore, and also one of africa’s deadliest animals.
I think you're referring to the cape buffalo.They're pretty nasty too.There's a great video on youtube filmed in South Africa of a herd of cape buffalo against a pride of lions.The buffalo were trying to save one of their young who had been attacked by the lions.Amazing stuff,IMO.
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