Marius Els Killed By His Pet Hippo Humphrey, South Africa

Humphrey was aged six and weighed more than a metric tonne when he attacked Mr Els. While Mr Els appeared to revel in his status as the man who had tamed a hippo, he did recognize his pet's power and danger.
'If he decides to get me off his back, then he throws me over like a horse', Mr Els told an interviewer before his death, adding: 'My friends won't even go near him.'
Humphrey's dangerous side was displayed in March this year when he tried to attack two canoeists as they made their way down the Vaal river. A 52-year-old man and his seven-year-old grandson were forced to scramble out of their canoe and climb a tree when they were approached by Humphrey. The terrified canoeists screamed and clapped in an attempt to drive the animal away from the tree - but Humphrey refused to move. Mr Els eventually managed to lure the hippo away with an apple, explaining that he had only approached the pair because he was hungry. Yesterday, a spokesman for one of South Africa's private ambulance services revealed that his staff were called to Mr Els' farm late on Saturday evening.