Story friend meets real animal
Discover Hippos
Mammal
Hugo is calm and comforting — real hippos spend their days resting in cool water.
Hugo the Hippo
Meet the real animal
Hippos are big, heavy animals that live in rivers and lakes in Africa. They spend the hot part of the day in water, with just their eyes, ears and nostrils showing, and come out at night to eat grass. Even though they look slow, hippos can move surprisingly quickly.
Look closer
Look at where the hippo's eyes and ears sit on its head. Why is that useful when it rests in a river?
Animal passport
Animal group
Mammal
Where they live
Rivers, lakes and swamps in Africa
Did you know?
Hippos cannot really swim — they walk and push along the bottom.
There's more to discover: habitats, food, babies, special features, words to discover, a mini quiz, a simple activity and grown-up conversation prompts.
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Stories where you'll meet hippos
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