All you need is love - even if you're a hippo

The scene was perfect. Candles lit the bowling green under a starry St Lucia sky. Drinks flowed.

The atmosphere was so good that everyone in the small KwaZulu-Natal tourist town wanted to come - even a local hippo that stumbled on to the green.

St Lucia bowling club members were bowled over when the hippo interrupted their Valentine's Day event on Saturday night.

Club member David Lawson said: “The celebration was going well. We had enjoyed a two-course meal and a few drinks. Instead of the normal evening floodlights‚ candles had been set up to provide romantic surroundings for the players… except the last one in had forgotten to close the gate.”

It was then that one of St Lucia’s famous urban strollers found the romantic surroundings irresistible - perhaps in the hope it could find its very own Valentine.

“Fortunately all the players are streetwise regarding St Lucia’s pet hippos‚” says Lawson‚ “The green was quickly evacuated and an orderly retreat to the club stoep was followed by a further round of drinks to calm nerves.”

Hippos may look cute and cuddly but the massive herbivores kill more humans than any other animal.

Within half an hour the uninvited guest became bored and left‚ obviously for greener pastures‚ and play resumed.

At over 800 in number‚ St Lucia has the largest hippo population in South Africa. They are regularly seen wandering the streets of the small seaside town.

Lawson said the bowling green was always open to guests.

"Visitors are welcome to come and play at our club. Just remember the risks!"