Swallowed!

January 14th, 2023| Topic: RaMbLeS | 0

The most dangerous animal in the world is apparently the mosquito, killing up to one million humans each year by spreading diseases including Zika and malaria. Snakes and wolves and bears are dangerous too. But hippos? Those cute, huge, “river-horses” (which is what “potamus” + “hippo” means)?

They are. Five hundred humans are killed in Africa a year by these beasts. They spend most of their time in the water but are aggressively territorial and can attack boaters who enter its space.

[They also claim their territory while defecating. Yup. They swish their tails back and forth, scattering their droppings like a muck-spreader. The resulting slapping noise echoes downstream and helps proclaim territory. Who knew?]

It is a herbivore, but the animal’s foot-long tusks and its size—3,000 lbs on average—make it a formidable opponent you don’t want to tangle with. Even on land. The thing can run up to 30 mph!

The Uganda Police Force said the other day that a hippo had attacked a 2-year-old boy in the Katwe-Kabatoro district, southwest of the country. The little fellow, Iga Paul, had been playing at his home near Lake Katwe when the “horse” attacked.

Said a spokesperson:

It took the bravery of a 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 child was later discharged from hospital after making a full recovery, police said.

Although the hippo was scared back into the lake, all residents near animal sanctuaries and habitats should know that wild animals are very dangerous. Instinctually, wild animals see humans as a threat and any interaction can cause them to act strangely or aggressively.”

Said an expert, John Coppinger, one of Uganda’s most experienced guides:

One dangerous aspect of hippo behavior is their unpredictability. With experience, most animals’ reactions can be forecast with a certain degree of accuracy, but in my opinion hippos are not endowed with a great deal of intelligence. Even they are not sure what their next move will be.”

In case you are attacked, Coppinger notes:

Clapping your hands, waving your arms or shouting is likely to have no effect on a charging hippo. Your only hope is to seek immediate refuge behind or up a tree or behind a termite mound.”

All kinds of dangers lurk around us in this world threatening to devour us whole. The Psalms are full of them:

They [enemies] opened wide their mouth against me ….
You have seen, Yahweh, do not be silent;
my Lord, do not be far from me.
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him.”
Psalm 35:21–22, 25

Rescue me from the mud and do not let me sink;
may I be rescued from those hating me and from the depths of waters.
May it not flood me, the torrent of waters;
and may it not swallow me, the deep;
and may it not close its mouth upon me, the pit. …
I am in distress; quickly answer me.
Psalm 69:14–15, 17

Only God can help.

Were it not Yahweh who was for us,
when people rose up against us,
then, alive they would have swallowed us,
when their anger burned at us;
then the waters—they would have swept us away.
Psalm 124:2–4

Instead God swallows them, the enemies!

Yahweh swallows them [enemies] in His wrath,
and fire consumes them.
Be exalted, Yahweh, in Your strength;
we will sing and praise Your might.
Psalm 21:9, 13

God, our only hope!

SOURCE: CNN; BBC; USA Today