Prega Govender Published:Apr 26, 2008

Farmer threatens to shoot couple’s famous ‘child’ for damaging his crops.

South Africa’s celebrity hippo, Jessica, may find herself staring down the barrel of a gun next time she goes knocking on her neighbour’s door.

Farmer Sybrand van Vuuren has warned Jessica’s adoptive parents, Shirley and Tonie Joubert, that he intends applying for a permit to shoot the hippo — famous for her domesticated antics like downing rooibos tea and sleeping in a bed — if she ventures onto his land and spoils his crop.

The permit would also apply to other hippos, Van Vuuren said.

Though Jessica’s capers have enthralled people around the world, Van Vuuren is less enchanted. He sent a lawyer’s letter to the Jouberts this week.

Van Vuuren and the Jouberts live on opposite sides of the Blyde River in Hoedspruit, Limpopo.

In the letter, Van Vuuren insisted that “no one would like to shoot Jessica”. But he said it would be difficult to distinguish between her and wild hippos.

He also warned the Jouberts that they would be held responsible for any damage or injuries caused by their unlikely pet.

Van Vuuren’s lawyer, Andries Burger, said the letter was intended as a warning to the couple to keep Jessica off his client’s property.

“If a permit is issued and a hippo that damages the crops is shot and it turns out to be Jessica, the whole world will be on my client,” he said.

Albertus Howard, chief nature conservator for the area , said permits were issued only after an assessment of the damage to crops or property.

The Jouberts hope a recently erected electric barrier will keep Jessica safe.

Tonie Joubert admitted the hippo had crossed the river and wandered onto Van Vuuren’s farm three times in February. “Since then she’s never been there because I put up an electrified fence on the island in the river that runs parallel to both farms.”

He said the fact that Jessica was able to climb up the bank on Van Vuuren’s side of the river and get into his farm was proof that his precautions to keep animals out were inadequate.

The Jouberts have raised Jessica since she was found on the river bank in March 2000, barely a day old.

Shirley Joubert’s bond with Jessica became even stronger after she suffered a miscarriage two years ago. She fell into a deep depression and was on the verge of becoming an alcoholic.

“If it wasn’t for Jess, I wouldn’t have pulled through,” she said. “If she is shot, I’ll go mad. She’s my child.”

Jessica, who frolicked in the Blyde River with comedian Leon Schuster during filming of the movie Mr Bones, has also appeared on Korean, Japanese and German television.