A baby hippo, orphaned and found nudging its deceased mother, is now being hand-reared by keepers at a wildlife sanctuary in Kenya. The calf, named Bumpy, was only days old when it lost its mother. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rescued the young hippo and brought it to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for specialised care.
Bumpy's mother may have died from natural causes or in a territorial fight. Infanticide, where an adult hippo kills a young one of the same species, is known to be common in hippo society. The KWS faced a difficult situation during the rescue. They had to use the decomposed body of the mother as an anchor to safely reach the calf in the water. The mother hippo had likely been dead for over a day.
After its rescue, Bumpy spent its first night at a nursery in Nairobi. Keepers fed the calf milk and kept it warm in a blanket. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust reported that Bumpy was clearly seeking comfort and connection. The calf has been very attached to its keepers since the rescue. It was later transported by helicopter to the Kaluku sanctuary. This sanctuary is located near Tsavo East National Park in Kenya. Bumpy will stay there until it is ready to be released back into the wild.
The sanctuary is sharing Bumpy's story and photos. Bumpy now spends much of its day in a pool. A keeper stays with Bumpy constantly, both in the water and on land. The sanctuary describes Bumpy as a very cuddly creature. It is happiest when resting on or against someone. Bumpy is not alone at Kaluku. Another young hippo, nearly a year old, is also at the sanctuary. However, the two young hippos are being kept in separate areas for now.
Both Bumpy and the other young hippo are expected to be released into the wild when they are older. Wildlife experts explain that hippo calves usually nurse for about a year. They stay very close to their mothers for several years. This attachment lasts until they reach sexual maturity. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, founded in 1977, is well-known for its work. It rescues and helps orphaned elephants and rhinos return to the wild.