Happy happy hippo: This acrobatic fellow proves the notoriously fierce creatures have a playful side

By Tom Goodenough


Despite a fierce reputation as one of the planet's deadliest creatures, it's still difficult to take this hippo seriously.

And the huge creature looked as though he was more interested in frolicking around in the mud than starting any trouble.

The amazing images of the over-sized beast were taken at the Khwai River in Botswana, on the border of the Moremi Game Reserve.

Bottoms up: The hippo shows off its playful side as it puts on an apparent performance for the camera

But despite the apparent fun of the occasion, the hippo still did its best to try and scare off the photographer who took the pictures.

In an apparent bad-tempered display, the animal tossed his head up and down before charging at Richard DuToit.


Said to be one of the most fierce animals on the planet, this hippo was more interested in larking about

The acrobatic hippo even pulled off a roly-poly while he frolicked around in the river

Speaking about the remarkable episode, the South African photographer, said:
'On arriving at the river I got out my vehicle and walked towards the hippo.

'He charged towards me and snorted, and his breath was blasting through the water.

'As I fired away with my camera, the animal ended things by rolling like a barrel.


Despite the apparent fun of the occasion, the hippo still took the chance to bare its huge teeth

The hippo even charged through the water towards the photographer at one point before retreating

He added: 'I dashed back to my vehicle feeling pretty excited but as all the images were taken on film I had to wait until I got home to see the results.

'I was amazed at the shots.'

Fortunately for the photographer, on this occasion the hippo stopped a few metres short of him before retiring back to the river.


source:dailymail

Nature, red in tooth and claw: Stunning pictures show battle to the death between hippo and two lions

By Leon Watson


These amazing shots show a fight to the death between two lions and a hippo.

After attacking and driving the hippo into deep water, the pair of lions play a waiting game, lying still on nearby rocks for two hours before the hippo ventures out.

Having waited for it to get clear of its bolt-hole, the lions pounce and the plucky juvenile hippo puts up a fight, chasing them away.

Fight to the death: A lion gets onto the hippo's back and the other attacks from the front at the Sabi Sands Game reserve in South Africa

But one lion gets onto the hippo's back and the other attacks from the front leaving the hippo charging with them to the nearest bit of a water in a bid to get them off.

But the water is shallow and the lions manage to flip the hippo over and drown it, before they are joined by a third lion for dinner.

Photographer Andrew Schoeman, 39, said: 'I was woken early one morning in the Sabi Sands Game reserve in South Africa by distress calls though I didn't know at that point it was a hippo.

'I followed the noise and saw the young hippo between three to five-years-old in shallow water surrounded by the three lions.

'Every time the hippo wanted to get away, the lions would go for him and he would then retreat back into the water.

'I think the lions attacked the hippo earlier than when I got there and the hippo had managed to get into the pool of water that was too deep for the lions to go into.


Law of the jungle: The two lions start off by stalking the hippo in its pond bolthole

One of the lions ventures into the water in the Sabi Sands Game reserve, but is chased out

'From the scratches on the hippo I would guess that the lions had been going after the hippo for quite some time before I arrived.

'This carried on for a while and then the lions went to lay down on a rock close to the water's edge. About two hours passed and eventually the hippo slowly emerged from the water.

'The hippo seemed not to see the lions crouched close by as they were very still and did not move.


Waiting game: The two lions lie in wait behind a rock as the stand-off continues into daylight


Forced out of his bolthole and onto dry land, the hippo is set upon by a vicious lion

A lion leaps onto the hippo's back as the other one circles with intent. Blood can been seen on the target's back

'It looked around and all seemed clear, so he started walking away. The lions waited until he got about 50m from the pool of water before chasing after him.

'The first lion was chased off by the hippo but the second lion jumped onto the hippo's back which allowed the first lion to also grab hold of the hippo.

'At this point the hippo realised he was in trouble and headed for the river with both lions attached.


Both of the beasts are now in on the action with one on the hippo's back and the other biting it


The hippo, still under attack, makes a dash back into the water in an attempt to escape

A third lion enters the fray, leaping into the water to attack the hippo

'It ran into the water and the lions held on but as the water was now shallower than the first pool and the lions were able to stand, they hung on and managed to pull the hippo onto its side.

'They then flipped it over onto its back and held the hippo upside down in the water until it stopped moving, before they started to eat it.'

Mr Schoeman added: 'I have never seen anything like this before. Lions are very opportunistic and will catch what they can whenever they can.


It's three versus one now as the lions claws at the injured hippo in the pond. There is now no escape


With blood streaming out of it, the hippo lies stricken underwater as two of the lions sink their teeth into it

Game over: Lions 1, hippo 0 as the poor creature is devoured in the water. It did put up quite a fight though

'I believe there are certain prides of lions that have learned to catch hippos but it is by no means a common occurrence.

'To be able to witness something like this in all its rawness was an amazing experience. It shows the true power of our natural world as well as these magnificent lions.

'Although it is not pleasant to see animals die and get killed it was a once in a lifetime experience.

'As a photographer I was thrilled to get these images and happy that the exposures were good and all in focus.'

Mr Schoeman lives in Nelspruit South Africa, but has worked in lodges in South Africa, Tanzania and Botswana.

He was a full time guide for nine years before managing lodges in Tanzania and Botswana for three years.

During that time he was also a full time photographic guide and now hosts photographic groups to all the photographic hotspots across Africa including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe.


source:dailymail

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


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.


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.

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

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.

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.

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


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.'


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


source:dailymail

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.


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


'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.'

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


Mr Forsyth continued: 'The hippo rose and sank a few times more and the heron stayed put stubbornly refusing to be offloaded, despite a few balancing problems which were corrected by opening his wings.

'At last the hippo had enough and rose high out of the water, turned and walked towards a shallow section of the lake, the heron appearing to surf on his back as he went.

'As he sank down below the water again he obviously disturbed a frog, the heron seized his chance to grab a quick meal and flew off with the prize.

'The fact that such a large animal is also likely to disturb fish and amphibians hiding in the bed of the lake is probably a bonus for him, one that paid off here.'

The photographer added: 'I've made several trips to Kruger and not seen behaviour like this before or since, so I feel privileged to have seen this interaction between a hunter and another animal that inadvertently helps him catch his prey.'


source:dailymail

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

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

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