2-Year-Old Boy Rescued After Hippo Swallowed 'Half of His Body,' Police Say

Hippo.Photo: Getty

A 2-year-old boy in Uganda survived a hippo attack after almost being swallowed whole.

Fortunately, a witness was able to throw stones at the animal to get it to relinquish the hold it had on the child.

“This is the first such kind of incident where a hippo strayed out of the Lake Edward and attacked a young child,” the police spokesperson said. According to the authorities the boy lives about 800 meters away from the lake, where theWildlife Conservation Societyestimates about 6,000 hippopotamus still roam.

Hippos are the third largest living mammal, after elephants and white rhinos,according to the African Wildlife Foundation. Weighing between 1.4 to 5 tons, they have powerful jaws that are capable of opening up to 150 degrees — and enormous incisors.

Typically, they leave their water pool at night to graze for four to five hours, and can cover up to five miles of territory in one night, eating about 88 pounds of food during this time, per the foundation.

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Although police say the hippo in this most recent attack was scared back into the lake, residents near animal sanctuaries and habitats should know that wild animals are very dangerous.

“Instinctually, wild animals see humans as a threat and any interaction can cause them to act strangely or aggressively,” the police spokesperson said.

Residents of the area should remain vigilant and alert park rangers about animals that have strayed into their neighborhoods, they added.

source: people.com