Dangerous Pets
The farmer - Marius Els (40) - was a former army major and clearly bonkers - because he must have known that hippos are regarded as the most dangerous animals in Africa.
Yet despite repeated warning Marius kept the hippo and treated it as a pet - even riding on its back when he had an audience or film crew - to record his reckless stunts.
Last week the 1.2 tonne hippo - a very territorial and agressive animal at times - turned true to its nature and Marius was found full of holes - in the local river where Humprhey (the hippo) had been rescued previously from a flood.
Earlier this year - in happier times - Marius said:
"Humphrey's like a son to me, he's just like a human," he said. "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."
That's the problem with people who are deluded - politicians and South African farmers alike - they acually believe what they are saying is true - until someone loses an eye, or worse.
Next thing you know we'll have a publicity seeking Australian farmer telling the world that his best buddy in the whole wide world - and regular swimming partner - is a twenty foot salt water crocodile.
If so, I can tell you right now - how that's going to end.
