A giant hippo swallowed a two-year-old boy whole before thankfully spitting him back out again alive.
The bizarre scene happened in Uganda, and the boy – named locally as Iga Paul – only came back out after angry and shocked locals pelted the hungry hungry hippo with stones.
Oddly, the incident happened in April this year, but wasn't actually reported to police until Monday (December 12), when video footage of it went viral locally.
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The attack happened off the shores of Lake Edwards, and appears to have attacked the boy who was playing outside his home without warning.
Ugandan Police said: “This is the first such kind of incident where a hippo strayed out of Lake Edward and attacked a young child.
“It grabbed the boy from the head and swallowed half of his body.
“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.”
The boy was taken to a nearby clinic, before being moved to a hospital for more treatment.
It is not clear what injuries he suffered, but he was given a vaccine for rabies – which hippos are known to carry.
Reports suggest that the hippo was just playing with the boy, rather than eating it, as they are vegetarian, but they can attack humans if they feel threatened.
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In Africa, there are around 500 deaths at the hands – or mouths – of hippos per year.
According to National Geographic, they are the world's deadliest animal and kill nearly twice as many humans as lions do.
They add: “ Males can become aggressive if they sense danger.
“Mothers may attack to protect their young.
“Although they can weigh up to four tons, they can run up to 20 miles per hour.
“Their jaws can open to 180 degrees, clamp down with a force 10 times that of human jaws, and their lower canines can grow to more than one and a half feet long.”
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