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Farmer is gouged to death by pet hippo Humphrey who was 'like a son to him'
Daily Mail ^ | 14th November 2011 | Dan Newling

Posted on 11/14/2011 7:56:34 AM PST by george76

A South African farmer has been killed by the pet hippopotamus he raised from the age of five months, and which he once described as being 'like a son' to him.

Humphrey the Hippo gouged owner Marius Els, 41, to death by repeatedly biting him in a vicious attack on Saturday night.

The farmer's mutilated body was discovered submerged in a river running through his 400-acre farm in rural South Africa.

...

Hippos are considered to one of the world's most dangerous animals. They are, by nature, very aggressive -...

They commonly attack humans with no apparent provocation, usually using their enormous canine teeth to gouge their victims.

They can weigh up to three tonnes and can travel at speeds of up to 30mph.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: africa; ar; darwin; darwinaward; hippo; hippopotamus; napl; southafrica
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To: Clint N. Suhks
"Yep, more than lions, leopards and hyenas."

So There are Democrats in Africa.
21 posted on 11/14/2011 8:24:21 AM PST by Kartographer (".. we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.")
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To: Hoodat
In Africa, hippos are responsible for more human deaths than any other animal.

Except other humans.

22 posted on 11/14/2011 8:25:03 AM PST by null and void (MSGT Dean Hopkins USMC (ret) WWII-Korea-Vietnam 11/9/1925-10/22/2011 My hero, my Dad)
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To: null and void

Well now you have for sure just offened the qhole animal world by lumping Humans in with them.


23 posted on 11/14/2011 8:26:45 AM PST by Kartographer (".. we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.")
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To: Tax-chick

Doesn’t surprise me. At least the guy is eligible for a Darwin Award.


24 posted on 11/14/2011 8:27:07 AM PST by Monkey Face (It's always darkest just before it goes totally black. <My mother said it first.>)
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To: null and void
Except other humans.

And "environmentalists."

25 posted on 11/14/2011 8:27:19 AM PST by Calvin Locke
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To: dfwgator
And now he’s Hippo poop.

He wasn't eaten by the hippo -- they are herbivores. He was just killed by it.

26 posted on 11/14/2011 8:27:56 AM PST by Cincinatus (Omnia relinquit servare Rempublicam)
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To: george76

It’s like grandma always said, “Don’t fu#& with a hippo.”


27 posted on 11/14/2011 8:29:09 AM PST by AD from SpringBay (We deserve the government we allow.)
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To: AD from SpringBay

Maybe this kid needs to rethink his Christmas list!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oOzszFIBcE


28 posted on 11/14/2011 8:31:29 AM PST by Kartographer (".. we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.")
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To: null and void

Of course. You are most certainly correct.


29 posted on 11/14/2011 8:33:10 AM PST by Hoodat (Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God. -Psalm 55:19-)
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To: Monkey Face

The poor fellow must have been very lonely to bond with a hippo to such an extent.


30 posted on 11/14/2011 8:35:30 AM PST by Tax-chick ("Without common referents, we are all merely inarticulate refugees from Babel."~Nicknamedbob)
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To: Tax-chick

Maybe he was part of the Penn State football program?


31 posted on 11/14/2011 8:37:18 AM PST by Kartographer (".. we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.")
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To: george76
He shouldn't have touched his *bucket*.


32 posted on 11/14/2011 8:42:45 AM PST by Daffynition
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To: george76
The danger with having a pet as large and dangerous as a hippo is that it only needs to get pissed at you ONCE.
33 posted on 11/14/2011 8:43:35 AM PST by SIDENET ("If that's your best, your best won't do." -Dee Snider)
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To: george76

When will people learn that animals are wild and as much as this farmer loved this hippo and raised it from 5 mos old... it was STILL wild and could TURN on anyone at any moment. It’s very sad but...unfortunately true.


34 posted on 11/14/2011 8:43:58 AM PST by cubreporter (Rush Limbaugh... where would our country be without this brilliant man?)
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To: Kartographer; JoeProBono

35 posted on 11/14/2011 8:44:41 AM PST by Daffynition
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To: Clint N. Suhks
One problem is that some humans don't take hippos seriously. We know enough to be wary of lions. We know enough to not piss off bulls with sharp horns. But some people just think hippos are harmless.

Another factor is that many animals may be unaggressive as juveniles, but turn very aggressive at adolescence.

36 posted on 11/14/2011 8:47:42 AM PST by PapaBear3625 (During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.)
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To: Kartographer
A man has to know his limitations, some just aren't cut out for professional sports.

37 posted on 11/14/2011 8:50:37 AM PST by Kartographer (".. we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.")
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To: george76

There’s a show on cable call Deadly Obsession which documents people with deadly pets. Lions, tigers, poisionous snakes, etc.

This guy would qualify.

They all wind up dead and they all say the exact same thing. “He would never hurt me. He loves me.”


38 posted on 11/14/2011 8:51:24 AM PST by 240B (he is doing everything he said he wouldn't and not doing what he said he would)
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To: PapaBear3625

I don’t know, I’ve always taken my Mother-in-law very seriously.


39 posted on 11/14/2011 8:51:45 AM PST by Kartographer (".. we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.")
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To: george76

Apparently, this farmer had forgotten to feed the hippo its daily diet of white marbles.


40 posted on 11/14/2011 8:51:50 AM PST by Sky Slug
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