Story Archive

What an Animal II

A man smacked Rosie on her rear. Rosie didn’t seem to mind — she didn’t even move — but police in California were called in anyway. Rosie is four years old — and a hippopotamus. Her mother, Mara, who was also in the Los Angeles Zoo enclosure the man climbed into, raised her head at the sound of the slap. But although hippopotami are the deadliest animals in Africa, the man made it out of the exhibit. Police say that since Rosie appears unhurt, they don’t see this as an animal cruelty case. They’re still investigating, however: the issue is trespassing. (AC/Los Angeles Times) ...Which carries a sentence much lighter than Mara might have imposed.