A 50-year-old man was attacked by a hippo who bit off part of his shoulder after storming his home in Ndeere village, Maragua constituency.
The victim identified as David Njoroge is currently nursing serious injuries.
The hippo attacked him around 7pm, just as he was about to eat his supper.
Moreover, Njoroge stated that he had just returned home from his daily hustle and was about to enjoy his supper when he heard a continuous noise; of people shouting and calling for help.
“I stepped out of my house when I heard the neighbors screaming, and that’s when I came face to face with the beast,” Njoroge reported.
“I had thought that a thief had probably been cornered stealing farm produce from nearby farms. I had no idea it was a hippo running around,” added Njoroge.
Unfortunately, the hippo ploughed through a confused Njoroge, and in the process bit off a sizable amount of flesh from his right shoulder.
“I fell to the ground, and played dead,” he said.
Also Read: Embu-Man Mauled to Death by Hippo
Njoroge’s neighbors rescued him and rushed him to Maragua Level 4 hospital where he had been admitted.
“The patient is stable and is expected to undergo a major surgery,” noted Dr. Irene Nyambura.
In addition, the locals asked the Kenya wildlife Services (KWS) to help mitigate human wildlife conflict in the area.
Nonetheless, an adult hippo weighs up to 1,500 kg, and can run 30 km/h over short distances despite its short legs and stocky build.