The Student Room Group

Hippo kills Taiwanese tourist in Kenya

Whilst of course its sad that someone was killed and another injured it is somewhat hard to get too upset over this when the phrase "death by misadventure" comes to mind. Darwinism would seem to be at work here if someone is getting that close to a famously dangerous animal to snap a picture.
What does everyone else think? Is this just a tragic accident or is this more indicative of a wider problem in the tourist industry where people take ridiculous risks for a photo? It brings to mind a video of some ejit trying to pet a lion and promptly having it try to severe his arm for his troubles.



A Taiwanese tourist has died after being bitten in the chest by a hippo he was trying to photograph in Kenya.
Chang Ming Chuang, 66, was tracking the animal at a wildlife resort on Lake Naivasha, 90km (56 miles) north-west of the capital, Nairobi.
A second tourist, also from Taiwan, was injured. Six people have been killed by hippos in the area this year.
High water levels have seen hippos - the world's deadliest large land mammal - stray on to resorts for pasture.
The Kenya Wildlife Service initially identified the two tourists as Chinese but Taiwan's foreign ministry later confirmed they were Taiwanese nationals. Kenya has no formal ties with Taiwan and recognises China's claims over the island.


Witnesses said the two had come too close to the animal near the Sopa hotel. The bitten man was rushed to hospital bleeding profusely but later died.
The second tourist, named as Wu Peng Te, was treated for minor bruising at Naivasha District Hospital.

David Kilo, chairman of Lake Naivasha Boat Owners Association, told Kenya's Star newspaper that rising water levels had reduced pasture areas for hippos, forcing them on to farms and hotel grounds, and increasing contact between the mammals and humans.
The Kenya Wildlife Service said it was tracking the hippo concerned.


Hippos, which are aggressive, have sharp teeth and weigh up to 2,750kg (three tons), kill an estimated 500 people every year in Africa.
Tourism earned Kenya $1.2bn (£950m) last year, with 1.4 million international arrivals.


https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45162747
If you're entering wild's animal territory, don't be surprised if it kills you.

I'm sure you would kill it, if it entered your house not invited.
Reply 2
Original post by PTMalewski
If you're entering wild's animal territory, don't be surprised if it kills you.

I'm sure you would kill it, if it entered your house not invited.


To be honest i'd probably just leg it up the nearest tree... I don't think my diddy little steak knife would do much bar annoy the creature further
The Kenya Wildlife Service initially identified the two tourists as Chinese but Taiwan's foreign ministry later confirmed they were Taiwanese nationals. Kenya has no formal ties with Taiwan and recognises China's claims over the island.


lol

Chinese loans are buying them significant political power in Africa.

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