Farmer gouged to death by pet hippo Humphrey who was 'like a son to him'

By DAN NEWLING



Playful: Marius Els with his pet hippo Humphrey at his farm in Free State, South Africa



Only earlier this year Mr Els, who was married, was pictured happily riding on his 1,200kg pet bull hippo's back.

'Humphrey's like a son to me, he's just like a human,' he said at the time.

'There's a relationship between me and Humphrey and that's what some people don't understand.



'They think you can only have a relationship with dogs, cats and domestic animals.

'But I have a relationship with the most dangerous animal in Africa.'

Mr Els kept 20 different species of exotic animals, including giraffe and rhino, on his farm near Klerksdorp in South Africa's north west.

But he developed a special fondness for Humphrey, whom he bought aged just five months and for whom he even built a special lake.



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.



Hitching a ride: Mr Els claimed to have a unique bond with seven-year-old Humghrey, who lived on his farm near Klerksdorp, but he did admit that friends did not go near the animal



Humphrey was aged six and weighed more than a metric tonne when he attacked Mr Els.

While Mr Els appeared to revel in his status as the man who had tamed a hippo, he did recognise his pet's power and danger.

'If he decides to get me off his back, then he throws me over like a horse', Mr Els told an interviewer before his death, adding: 'My friends won't even go near him'

Humphrey's dangerous side was displayed in March this year when he tried to attack two canoeists as they made their way down the Vaal river.

A 52-year-old man and his seven-year-old grandson were forced to scramble out of their canoe and climb a tree when they were approached by Humphrey.

The terrified canoeists screamed and clapped in an attempt to drive the animal away from the tree - but Humphrey refused to move.



Pet: The pair splashed around with Mr Els completely at ease with the 1,200 kg animal



Mr Els eventually managed to lure the hippo away with an apple, explaining that he had only approached the pair because he was hungry.

Yesterday, a spokesman for one of South Africa's private ambulance services revealed that his staff were called to Mr Els' farm late on Saturday evening.

'Paramedics responded to the scene to find that the man had been bitten several times by the animal and had also been immersed in the river for an unknown period,' Jeffrey Wicks said.



Mr Wicks explained that the farmer was declared dead at the scene, but added it was not know for how long he had lain undiscovered.

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

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.



Tragic end: The South African farmer's mutilated body was discovered submerged in a river running through his 400 acre property. He had been dead for an unknown period of time



source: dailymail

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Nobody likes a trip to the dentist… least of all a 3,000lb hippo

By DANIEL MILLER

And how often do you brush? Tomy the hippopotamus endures a spot of dental work

This massive hippopotamus needed an urgent trip to the dentist after a problem with his teeth made him very hungry hungry indeed.

Tomy, 39, a favourite with his keepers at the Bayamon Zoo in Puerto Rico, was suffering from a painful malocclusion which prevented his lower teeth from wearing properly.

His condition had got so bad it was putting him off his food and his weight had plummeted to just 3000lbs, which for a hippo is dangerously low.


This might hurt a bit: Brave Tomy stays remarkably calm as the team of vets use a power saw to cut through his lower tooth


So chief veterinarian at North Carolina Zoo, Dr. Mike Loomis, went over to give Tomy a badly needed dental procedure.

Mike, along with veterinarians and keepers at the Parque de las Sciencias museums in Bayamon, have been treating the normally happy hippo for two decades and has made numerous trips to trim the animal's overgrown gnashers.


A well-deserved bath: With the dental work done Tomy enjoys a quick wallow in front of the assembled media


Unfortunately giving a hippo an anaesthetic is no mean feat due to their size, fat layer and lack of accessible veins.

So Mike and the team developed a technique to partially anesthetise Tomy and trim his teeth while he is in a sitting position.

After giving him just enough anaesthetic to be comfortable but not enough to knock him out completely they used a reciprocating saw with a metal cutting blade to quickly trim his lower teeth.


Gargle and rinse: The 3,000lb beast sits like an obedient dog as he gratefully receives a refreshing hose down following his grueling ordeal


Mike said: 'The first time I performed the dental procedure on Tomy, his teeth had grown through his upper lip, making it very painful for him to chew.

'He was very thin, and I was concerned about the risk of anaesthesia. Since then, the zoo has done a great job of making sure his teeth are trimmed before they get to that point.'

source: dailymail

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It's the hippo hippo shake! Baby hippo becomes unlikely zoo starlet after amazing visitors with hilarious underwater routines

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Helpful nudge: Adhama is pushed along by his mother Funani while swimming at San Diego Zoo

They may not be creatures known for their agility and grace, but baby hippo Adhama looks like he enjoys doing things his own way.

The adorable creature has become a crowd-pleasing hit at San Diego Zoo thanks to his upside-down underwater japes.

The seven-month-old calf twists and turns in his underwater home while showing off an enviable array of flips and spins.


Look at me! Adhama shows off her underwater agility during her amazing routine


Spinning around: With a little help from mum, Adhama carries on her upside-down antics


Underwater fun: Adhama has become 'more independent' in recent months according to staff at the zoo


His exploits are all carried out under the surface under the watchful eye of his mother Funani.

Adhama's hilarious dance moves and pirouettes have even seen watching visitors compare him to the ballet-dancing hippos in Disney's Fantasia.

The animated film sees tutu-wearing hippos spinning around a fountain, in a sequence which has been replicated in parts at San Diego Zoo.


Taking a breather: Adhama plays above the surface with his mother during a break in one of his exhausting routines


Matt Akel, Animal care supervisor at the zoo, said Adhama - born weighing 100 pounds in January - has become more independent as he grows up.

He said: 'It's interesting that Adhama's personality has definitely blossomed. He's playing around with his mum and mouthing his mum.


Inspiration? Many visitors have compared Adhama's exploits to the hippo dancing scene from Disney's Fantasia


'You see her push him around, but she's just playing. You see him stand up on the rock to take a breath, spin sideways and tumble in the water.

'He's interesting to watch and we tend to get really big crowds.'

YouTube footage of Adhama's exploits has already made the young hippo an internet star after generating tens of thousands of hits.



source: dailymail

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Hipp-oh so sweet: Rare newborn pygmy hippopotamus is Tokyo zoo's star attraction

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Mother's love: This pygmy hippopotamus mother and child showed their affections for one another in their enclosure at a zoo in Japan

It seems unlikely that this hippo would win any kind of award for the world's cutest animal.

But this mother didn't seem to care as she snuggled up to her newborn child who has become a star attraction in Japan.

The pygmy hippopotamus was born a month ago on June 24 at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo and is one of only a handful around the world.


Bath time: With what looks like a smile on his face, the young pygmy hippo has a wash in a small pool


When the cuddle with Mum was the done the pygmy hippo decided it was bath time. He hopped into a small pool in his enclosure for a quick wash.

After a good clean he returned to his, nuzzling his own nose against her hind leg as she walked in front of him.

Hippos have become so rare that they are often referred to as 'living fossils'.


Protector: The mother keeps the baby pygmy out of harms away below her chin


They are normally found in western Africa and weigh in at between 160 and 270kg.

When this baby becomes an adult it is likely to be around 6ft long..

This compares with a normal hippo who can weigh up to five tons and grow to more than five metres in length.


Watch out! The hippo nudges his nose on one of his mother's rear legs


The pygmy's diet consists of a variety of ferns and broad-leaved plants, as well as grasses and fruits found in dense rain forests.

The animals are endangered because of the destruction of their habitat and due to poaching for their teeth, which contain ivory.

The baby's home at the Ueno Zoo in central Tokyo is the oldest zoo in Japan and has been established since the 1880s.

It zoo is now home to more than 2,600 animals from 464 different species, with many coming from abroad, including the first giant pandas during 1972.

It also has a legacy of breeding baby hippos - with others being born in 2001.

source: dailymail

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Who's the bird brain? Heron fishes from a 'rock' which suddenly comes alive

By DAILY MAIL

The heron landed on what looked like a rock, having spied a good spot on which to perch while looking for fish


This heron was in for a shock, when the 'rock' it was perched on to fish from turned out to be a hippo.

The bird realised something strange was going on, at Kruger National Park, South Africa, after the spot it had landed on suddenly began to move.

However, undeterred from its task, the clever heron continued to use the unsuspecting mammal as the perfect hunting platform.


The hippo begins to rise up out of the water but the clever heron continues to surf the mammal


During the remarkable 10-minute encounter the heron desperately tried to keep balance as the hippo repeatedly came up for air.

Finally, it managed to spot a frog in the water, which it skilfully picked up in its beak before flying off with its catch.

At first, British photographer Andrew Forsyth thought the heron was sitting on top of a small mud island.

It was only when the huge creature emerged from the water that he realised it was a hippo wallowing in a mud bath.

The 42-year-old from Brighton, East Sussex, said: 'The scene was already quite special because there was an orange haze caused by bush fires that raged in the distance as the sun went down.


The heron manages to stay atop the hippo - and even catches a frog while riding the animal


'I spotted the heron on what I thought was a small mud island and watched it as it looked for fish for several minutes.

'Suddenly the "island" rose up out of the water, two nostrils appeared and took a big breath then went under again.

'I watched it for several minutes, again with the heron looking out for fish passing by, the hippo rising and falling occasionally as he breathed.

'The hippo didn't seem to mind the presence of the passenger - I do wonder if it felt like a good back scratch for him.'

source: dailymail

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A 13-day-old hippopotamus and his mother Maruska

A 13-day-old hippo walks next to it's mother as it is showed to the public for the first time at Prague Zoo in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, June 21, 2011.



A newly born baby hippo swims in its enclosure at Prague Zoo June 21, 2011. The baby hippo was born on June 8, 2011.



A newly born baby hippo rests in its enclosure at Prague Zoo June 21, 2011. The baby hippo was born on June 8, 2011.



A 13-days old hippo with his mother Maruska showed to public for the first time at the Prague's Zoo in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, June 21, 2011.



A 13-day-old hippopotamus and his mother Maruska are shown to the public for the first time at the Prague Zoo in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, June 21, 2011.


source: daylife
photo: AP photo

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A hippopotamus is released into an enclosure at the zoo in the West Bank town of Qalqilya

Palestinians look at a newly arrived hippopotamus at the Zoo in the West Bank town of Qalqilya, Tuesday, April 12, 2011. The adult male hippopotamus weighing 1.5 ton was sent to the Palestinian Zoo from the Israeli Safari Park in Ramat Gan on Tuesday, to keep company to another male hippo transferred to Qalqilia from the Safari Park last year. The two organizations have been cooperating closely for years.



A hippopotamus enjoys a swim after his arrival to the Zoo in the West Bank town of Qalqilya, Tuesday, April 12, 2011. The adult male hippopotamus weighing 1.5 ton was sent to the Palestinian Zoo from the Israeli Safari Park in Ramat Gan on Tuesday, to keep company to another male hippo transferred to Qalqilia from the Safari Park last year. The two organizations have been cooperating closely for years.



A hippopotamus is released into an enclosure at the zoo in the West Bank town of Qalqilya April 12, 2011. The 6-year-old hippopotamus, weighing 1.5 tons, was transferred on Tuesday from Israel's Ramat Gan Safari to the Qalqilya zoo in the West Bank, as part of continued cooperation between the two, safari spokeswoman Sagit Horowitz said.


source: daylife

photo: AP photo

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A baby pygmy hippopotamus named Oliver

A baby pygmy hippopotamus named Oliver stands next to his mother Krakunia after being born at Parken Zoo in Eskilstuna in this handout photo taken February 15, 2011 and released March 3, 2011.



A baby pygmy hippopotamus named Oliver sits next to his mother Krakunia after being born at Parken Zoo in Eskilstuna in this handout photo taken February 15, 2011 and released March 3, 2011.



A baby pygmy hippopotamus named Oliver stands next to his mother Krakunia after being born at Parken Zoo in Eskilstuna in this handout photo taken February 15, 2011 and released March 3, 2011.

source: Daylife
photo: Reuters

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Hippo to help: Amazing moment hippopotamus tries to rescue drowning wildebeest

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Stuck: The stranded wildebeest looks like it could be the giant hippo's next meal as the creature moves in


Stuck on a rock in a crocodile infested river, this Wildebeest must have feared for its life.

And, separated from the rest of the herd with a group of hippos closing in, the prospects for the animal did not seem appealing.

But in an amazing act of animal compassion one of the passing hippos paddles over and gives the wildebeest a quick leg-up to set it on its way.


Free: Incredibly, the hippo lifts the drowning wildebeest free from the rock which it had been stuck on


The bull hippo takes pity on the struggling creature and fixes it enormous jaws around it and lifts it away from the rock.

The wildebeest was then released from the rock and tried to join the rest of its herd which had been crossing the Masai River during an annual crossing in Masai Mara, Kenya.

Unfortunately despite the hippo's best attempts the wildebeest struggled to make it across the river and drowned with a broken back.


Swim: wildebeest make their spectacular annual crossing of the Masai River where one of their herd was helped by a hippo after getting stuck


Photographer Mitchell Krog, 39, said: 'One of the more mature hippo bulls eventually came very close to the wildebeest and tried nudging him a few times to see if he could free the animal from the rocks.

'The hippo sensed the wildebeest was injured and had no chance of survival. It's not often an animal like a hippo shows a softer side.

'This proved useless and eventually this same hippo grabbed the wildebeest on his back using his mouth and dragged it clear of the rocks and into a deeper section of river where he then released it into the river flow. '


source: dailymail

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How I made friends with Humphrey the happy hippo (who even gives me piggyback rides across the river)

Tale from the riverbank: Marius Els with his pet hippo Humphrey at his farm in Free State, South Africa


The hippo is most dangerous animal in the whole of Africa.

But they're not all bad - as these incredible pictures show.

A South African farmer has developed a friendship with one that is so trustworthy, the hippo helps him cross lakes on his 400-acre farmstead.


Balancing act: Marius manages to stay on Humphrey's back as he cadges a lift across the river with the tame hipp at his farm in Free State, South Africa


Marius Els breeds 20 different species of wildlife on land near Petrus Steynlakes, including giraffe, buffalo, rhinos and antelope.

But he has a real soft spot for Humphrey, whom he bought aged just five months and allows to roam free. He even built a dam to create a 200m wide and 18m deep lake that is perfect for wallowing in.


Across we go: Marius Els bought Humphrey when he was just five months old and is looking for a mate but tame females are hard to come bywith his pet hippo Humphre


The gargantuan pet is now six, and as Marius, 40, explains, 'could rip a man my size apart with no problem'.

Sometimes he does get tired of his ferrying role. 'If he decides to get me off his back, then he throws me over like a horse.'

However, it is usually a case of Marius clinging on for dear life as Humphrey plunging through the water like like a giant grey tank .


Best friends: Marius pats the back of 1,200kg Humphrey who is so powerful he could rip a human apart in an instant


The powerful hippopotamus, who at 1200kg weighs well over a metric tonne, is such a strong swimmer that the water barely reaches Marius' knees before they ride to the far side of the lake where the two sit down for a well deserved break.

'Humphrey's like a son to me, he's just like a human,' said Marius,
'There's a relationship between me and Humphrey and that's what some people don't understand.

source: dailymail

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There's a hippo in my back garden: Two-tonne Nikica makes a break from his pen after flooding hits zoo

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Nikica the hippo has escaped its pen before during a flood


You may expect to see birds, bees and even the odd fox in your garden.

However, the gigantic bulk of a two-tonne wallowing hippopotamus would probably come as something of a shock.

Fortunately, residents in Plavnica, in Montenegro are used to Nikica, who regularly goes AWOL from his pen at the town's zoo.


Nikica is the only hippopotamus in Montenegro


'He sometimes escapes his habitat when the water levels rise and this is not unusual,' zoo co-owner Nikola Pejovic said in January when the beast made a similar getaway from a private zoo in Plavnica.

Nikica, 12, was photographed swimming by houses four kilometres away from his own home.

The flooding situation in Montenegro was fairly serious over the weekend in the Lake Skadar region, at the border with Albania, where the zoo is located.

More than 1,000 soldiers were called to help the locals with the rising water. But the soldiers have nothing to worry about with the friendly hippo.

'Locals are completely used to him,' Pejovic said of Nikica, who is described as 'extremely tame and peaceful'.

'He would not be able to return to his flooded pen as long as the waters in the lake are so high,' he said during the January flooding.

Nikica, Montenegro's only hippo, has been living in the zoo for a decade.


The 12-year-old, 2-ton hippopotamus is an unofficial local mascot


The 12-year old has been living in the local zoo for ten years

source: dailymail

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I need a ride... and make it snappy: Crazy crocodile crosses river on the back of a hippo

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

They'll never see me up here: The croc was snapped on the back of a hippo in Tanzania


How did the crocodile cross the lake?

He hopped on the back of a hippo to get to the other side.

It may sound like a joke but these amazing pictures from Tanzania capture a crazy croc doing just that.

Caught in the middle of a hippopotamus fight, the reptile grabbed on to one of the powerful mammals' backs.

The three-ton beast was so distracted by the commotion around her that she had no idea a five-year-old predator was perched on top of her.

British wildlife guide Mark Johnson took the incredible pictures while he was guiding tourists on a river safari on the Luwego River near Lukula.


Nearly there... must hold on: The croc found himself taken for a ride after a brawl between the hippopotami on the Luwego River near Lukula


The female hippo made her way to shore but ended up with the scaly intruder on her back as she emerged from the water.

Mr Johnson, who moved to Tanzania as a child, and his group watched in amazement as the croc clung on for half-a-minute before it slid into the water.

'It has to be one of the funniest things I've ever seen,' he said.


Undetected: The five-year-old croc remains on top of the hippo and almost gets to the other side


'It was a gorgeous October afternoon - a peak time of year for game viewing - and we were driving up the sand banks in the middle of the river.

'It's dry at this time of year and all the animals congregate at the remaining water, bringing crocs and hippos a bit closer than they usually like.

'Two huge male bulls in close proximity erupted into a fight, causing the rest of the herd to head away.

'In the excitement I think the croc sought refuge from being stood on and had climbed on to a passing hippo's back.

'After a while the croc unceremoniously fell off her and we all burst into laughter.'



Splashdown: The crocodile was unceremoniously dumped off the hippo near the edge of the bank and swam away (at the bottom of the picture)


He showed his pictures to amused locals who confirmed they had never seen anything like it before.

Hippopotami and crocodiles do not generally interact with each other - but their love of the same water-based habitat sometimes causes unavoidable clashes.

The mighty herbivores are usually too big to be threatened by crocodiles.
'You will find many crocodiles near hippos because their diet consists mainly of fish,' Johnson added.

'The fish hang around the hippos to eat their dung. In turn the crocs eat the fish.'

Extremely heavy hippos can outrun humans. Known as one of Africa's most dangerous animals, they have been recorded running at speeds of up to 19mph on their short stubby legs.

Crocodiles live up to a staggering 150 years and can survive on just one big meal a year.




source: dailymail

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Hungry, hungry hippo: The moment vet is pulled to safety after trying to sedate rampaging animal

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Lunge: Dr Markus Hofmeyr is sent sprawling after the irate hippopotamus charges him in Crocodile River, Kruger National Park


Dragged to safety by a colleague, this veterinarian got a bit more than he bargained for after attempting to sedate an irate hippo.

Dr Markus Hofmeyr narrowly escaped serious injury after the animal lunged at him and threw him into a pool by Crocodile River in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

The enraged creature was just inches from trampling on the unfortunate vet but thanks to intervention by colleague Dr Nico de Bruin he was pulled to safety just in time.

The incident occurred after the hippopotamus was shot with a tranquiliser dart in an attempt to test a new chemical for sedating the animals.

After the creature had been darted it had sat sedately in the shallow pool, and appeared to be passive as scientists began their work.

But the experts rushed to its aid after its head dropped below the surface of the water.

Dr Hofmeyr said: 'We suspect that it got water in its nose, which stimulated it back into consciousness.

'The animal was very dazed and confused when it straightened up again. It snapped in our direction and then came for us.

'The hippo passed between us and made for the deeper water.'


Close encounter: The enraged creature opens its powerful jaws as it powers towards the helpless vet


Rescue: Dr Hofmeyr is pulled to safety seconds before the massive hippo surges past him. The creature was later shot dead


The furious animal made another lunge at the retreating pair before they were able to scramble on to a nearby mud bank.

A game ranger then shot and killed the animal.

'It is regrettable that the hippo had to die, but for our safety's sake it had to be shot.

'The scientific team were attempting to develop an alternative sedative drug to the one currently available.

'The conventional drug was originally designed for elephants and rhinos and is too strong for hippopotamus,' Dr Hofmeyr said.

'The biggest problem with darted hippos is that they usually flee into the water. Many then drown.

'That is why we started doing research to develop a more suitable substance specifically for hippos.

'A lesson we definitely learned from this incident is to muzzle these animals in future.'


source : dailymail

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