A Hippopotamus attacked a young boy in Uganda on December 4. The Uganda Police Force stated that a hippo came and attacked the 2-year-old boy in Uganda. The hippo swallowed half of his body before eventually spitting him out.
It was on December 4 that the child was attacked at around 3 p.m. local time in the Katwe-Kabatoro district in the southwest of the country.
Police identified Iga Paul as the boy. He was playing at home in Rwenjubu cell, Lake Katwe.
The police attribute the brave act of service from a nearby man to the miraculous rescue of the boy. The man threw stones at the hippo, causing it to let go of the boy and scare him off so the boy could be rescued. “It took the bravery of one Chrispas Bagonza, who was nearby, to save the victim after he stoned the hippo and scared it, causing it to release the victim from its mouth,” said an official with the Uganda Police Force.
The boy needed medical attention and it was reported that the boy was treated at a nearby clinic for injuries to one of his hands. He was then later transferred to Bwera Hospital in west Uganda for further treatment.
The boy has now been discharged after having made a complete recovery, according to police. A rabies vaccine was also administered to him by the police before the police returned him to his parents.
According to the statement, “Although the hippo was scared back into the lake, all residents near animal sanctuaries and habitats should know that wild animals are very dangerous.” It continued, “Instinctually, wild animals see humans as a threat, and any interaction can cause them to act strangely or aggressively.”
National Geographic reports hippos are one of the most dangerous animals in the world.