Darwin Visits the Ukraine...

August 1, 2001 8:03 AM

Darwin Visits the Ukraine...
"The girl...was messing around outside the fence and then decided, for some reason, to go and play and swim with the hippopotamus''
Why? Because lack of common sense is a global, and playing with exotic animals is fun and trendy. No word on whether they had to kill the hippo and test it's brain for rabies.
posted by hotdoughnutsnow (12 comments total)

If you want to swim with animals, stick with VR.
posted by skallas at 8:15 AM on August 1, 2001

if they want to do this sory of thing, then go on safari!
posted by monkeyJuice at 8:21 AM on August 1, 2001

Skallas, that all good and stuff, but watch out for The Lawnmower Man. This is scarey.
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 8:23 AM on August 1, 2001

hotdoughnutsnow, anything that takes you even one step closer to being Jeff Fahey is scary.
posted by MonkeyMeat at 8:31 AM on August 1, 2001

Hippos are remarkably dangerous. They kill a surprising number of people each year in Africa.

You probably think I'm joking, but I'm not. It's true.
posted by aramaic at 8:34 AM on August 1, 2001

I've heard that Hippos kill more people in Africa than any other wild animal. I know it doesn't seem like it should be true, but it is.
posted by jnthnjng at 8:42 AM on August 1, 2001

Why do you think they named the classic game "Hungry Hungry Hippos?" Clearly part of a public health initiative to indoctrinate children into a healthy caution around the ravenous "water horse."
posted by BT at 9:02 AM on August 1, 2001

Side note : If you ever go to Kiev (pronounced keev, rhymes with achieve), be sure not to call it "The Ukraine". This is considered insulting to Ukrainians.
posted by jragon at 9:37 AM on August 1, 2001

The news article stated (at the end) that the zoo has a problem with people climbing over fences to "cavort" (as they put it) with the animals.

Here's an idea: next time, don't bother saving the person.
posted by aramaic at 9:43 AM on August 1, 2001

The hippo is often depressed, as it is commonly left out of the major social events of the year. When you have your next soiree, you may invite a hog, frog, cat, rats, moose, goose, bear or hare, but Not the Hippopotamus. And, for heavens sake, avoid inviting the Armadillo.
posted by dwivian at 10:28 AM on August 1, 2001

Yeah, don't save them, then hang their carcasses atop big "X" shaped structures... that will keep the people out of the forbidden zone.

Also, Monkeymeat, get closer to Jeff Fahey. do it
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 10:31 AM on August 1, 2001

doughnuts- Thanks for the link. You're right- I was so wrong. I need to get in touch with my inner Fahey.
posted by MonkeyMeat at 12:19 PM on August 1, 2001