Tourist killed by hippo

By Antony Gitonga 

Naivasha, Kenya: A Chinese tourist was attacked and killed by a hippopotamus that strayed from Lake Naivasha into the compound of a hotel where she was staying.

The woman in her 30’s was attacked by the lactating hippo mother which crushed her and she died on the way to hospital.

The incident occurred at Lake Naivasha Country Club five kilometres from Naivasha town.

Kenya Wildlife Service officers moved in and shot dead the wild animal.

The tourist was allegedly trying to take pictures of a young hippo when the mother attacked her.

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According to the warden in charge Hellsgate National park Osman Ibrahim, the victim left her room at around 9pm after spotting the young hippo.

“The information we have is that the Chinese tourist started taking pictures of the young hippo and she was attacked by the mother,” he said.

“She was seriously injured on the waist and neck and was rushed to a nearby private hospital where she was pronounced dead,” he said.

Osman regretted the death adding that the group had arrived in the hotel on the same day before the tragedy occurred.

Naivasha deputy OCPD Paul Korir confirmed the incident and said that the body had been transferred to Lee Funeral home in Nairobi.