Two-year-old rescued after being swallowed by hippo in Uganda 

A two-year-old boy in Uganda was rescued after a hippopotamus swallowed him and then spit him out, according to a statement from the Uganda Police Force on Friday. 

The boy was attacked by the hippo on December 4 at around 3 p.m. local time in the Katwe-Kabatoro district, the police said. 

The boy, identified as Iga Paul, was playing near his home in Rwenjubu cell, Lake Katwe when the large animal attacked him and swallowed half of his body. A bystander saw the attack and began throwing stones at the hippo to get it to let go of the child. 

"It took the bravery of one Chrispas Bagonza, who was nearby, to save the victim after he stoned the hippo and scared it, causing it to release the victim from its mouth," a spokesperson for Uganda Police Force said in the statement.

The boy was taken to a clinic to treat a hand he injured during the attack. He was later transferred to Bwera Hospital, the statement added. He also received a vaccine for rabies. 

Iga successfully recovered from the attack and was released from the hospital. 

Hippos are known to be one of the world’s most dangerous animals. According to National Geographic, they can snap a canoe in half with their jaws. 

"Although the hippo was scared back into the lake, all residents near animal sanctuaries and habitats should know that wild animals are very dangerous," the statement said. "Instinctually, wild animals see humans as a threat and any interaction can cause them to act strangely or aggressively."