A domestic hippopotamus tore its owner from Free State, South Africa, after he decided to ride it, reports The Mirror.
40-year-old farmer and former Army Major Marius Els kept a pet hippo he named Humphrey.
He said that the hippopotamus responds to his call and loves to play with him. Els stated that he treats the hippo like a son and even brushed the animal’s teeth himself.
“It’s a little dangerous, but I trust him with my heart and I know he won’t hurt anyone. He lets me sit on his back and I ride him like a horse. We swim together. This is a relationship that many people will not understand. They think that such a relationship can only be with cats or dogs, “- said the farmer.
On Sunday, December 13th, six-year-old Humphrey tore his master to pieces and dragged him into the Waal River near his home.
Ambulance spokesman Jeffrey Wicks said that paramedics arrived at the scene and found that the animal had bitten its owner several times, causing the man to die.
Earlier it was reported that two lionesses in South Africa killed the one who saved them for many years back to the owner who took them out for a walk. According to the daughter-in-law of the deceased, the animals did not want to harm the person and just started playing some cruel game with him.