As cute and squishy as baby hippos are, they’re still quite literally a handful in many cases. For example, getting one to do something it doesn’t feel like doing can be a process… to say the least. That’s a lot of cuteness to move around!
Well, that’s exactly the case in this adorable video, as one Wildlife Park in Kansas shared their six-step-process to getting their baby hippo, Latke back inside after a long day of lounging under the sun. Check it out:
@tanganyikawildlifepark6 steps to getting tiny hippo inside at the end of tne day 🦛 #babyhippo #hippobaby #pygmyhippo #babyanimals #adorable
I love how the first step is giving Latke a pep talk. Don’t ask me why I think it’s so funny, but I do. And actually seeing it happen was such a treat. I wonder what she’s saying? Regardless, this slow, sleepy, stubborn little guy clearly doesn’t want to move. Thankfully we’re dealing with some serious pros here. Respect the process!
Related: Baby Hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo Tries to ‘Hitch a Ride’ in Irresistible Video
Anyone wondering why it took two people to eventually move this little nugget must not know how heavy he truly is. This isn’t a puppy, folks! It’s still a hippo. But I think it’s easy to see just how dense this little guy is when they set him back down. Run baby hippo, run!
Why Zoos love pygmy hippos
While there are many differences between pygmy hippos and “common” hippos, one reason zoos and wildlife parks love pygmy hippos so much is because they’re much smaller than other hippos.
It’s really no surprise that hundreds of pygmy hippos live happily in captivity (and that’s just in the US), as they simply need less space and food to survive and lead a happy life.
Make no mistake, however—they’re still beasts! Pygmy hippos can still weigh anywhere from 400-600 lbs, which is obviously not small… just smaller than common hippos who generally weigh much more.
Plus, they still share plenty of similarities with common hippos. For instance, they still look like hippos, right? And that’s because, well, they are. Point is, if you saw two fully grown hippos standing next to each other—one pygmy, one common—you’d certainly notice the difference in size, sure, but you’d see many similarities all the same.
So, as far as zoo-goers are concerned, they’re still extremely fascinating to watch and examine. Some might argue they’re even cuter!
No matter how you look at it, though, there’s really nothing small about these beasts. As we learned in this fun little video, even a baby pygmy hippo like Latke is still a mini wrecking ball. These park employees are getting a workout lugging this goofball around!
But it’s a good thing he’s so cute, because something tells me this process will take place again tomorrow. And the next day… and the next day… and yeah, even the next.
