When animals encounter the same situation, they might react differently, just like people do. Just as some folks enjoy certain things while others don’t, animals also have their own preferences. For instance, a baby elephant might love playing with birds, while a baby rhino might not be so keen on making feathered friends. It’s amusing and adorable to see how animals have their own unique personalities.
At South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, photographer Marc Mol captured a funny moment involving a newborn hippo and some hitchhiking birds called oxpeckers. Initially, the hippo didn’t mind the birds hanging around, but it soon wanted them to buzz off. When the birds refused to budge, hilarity ensued!
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The little oxpeckers landed on the baby hippo’s back while it was enjoying itself, but soon started pecking at its skin. The frightened hippo cried out for help, trying everything to shake off the unwanted guests. Despite its efforts to scare them away by running and pretending to head into the water, the persistent birds stayed put. Thankfully, they eventually got tired and flew away.
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Oxpeckers and hippos usually have a beneficial relationship, as the birds clean the hippos by eating ticks and bugs off their skin. However, in this case, the baby hippo found the birds annoying and bothersome. Despite the sympathy it garnered online due to its adorable facial expressions, the hippo didn’t seem to appreciate its feathered companions.
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This cute encounter quickly gained attention when Marc shared the pictures online, with many people finding the baby hippo’s reactions amusing. And that’s the story of how a baby hippo got surprised by some unexpected visitors on its back!
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