You can’t make this stuff up!
Hippo is like a son???
Man mauled to death by pet hippo he described as 'like a son'A South African farmer was reportedly mauled to death on Sunday by his pet hippo, which he had previously referred to as "like a son to me."
Marius Els, who lived in the Free State province of South Africa was found dead in a river, having been bitten repeatedly by the animal.
Els, 40, had adopted the hippo, whom he had named "Humphrey," when it was found as a calf. Earlier this year footage of Els riding the more than 2,000-pound beast went viral.
The South African said that "Humphrey" had responded to his calls, enjoyed playing with him, and that he would even brush the hippo's teeth.
https://apple.news/ARgkwV4l2TUaUH33FjwSSgQ
