Four dead after hippopotamus attack in Kenya

Four young men have died in a hippopotamus attack at Lake Naivasha in Kenya, according to media reports.

A group of 14 men had wanted to fish illegally on Friday night on the shores of the lake, a popular tourist attraction located about 80 kilometres from the capital Nairobi in the Rift Valley.

Several hippos charged the group, Kenyan media reported on Saturday. Some of the men were able to swim to safety, while others were attacked by the animals or drowned.

According to relatives, the men were looking to supplement their family income by fishing.

Hippos, which graze on the lake shore at night, can quickly become aggressive when they feel their territory has been violated.

Tourist lodge and camp operators warn visitors against taking night-time walks by the lake and coming between the animals and the water.