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NAIROBI (AFP) - A baby hippopotamus that survived the tsunami waves
on theKenyan coast has formed a strong bond with a giant male century-oldtortoise , in an animal facility in the port city of Mombassa ,officials said.
The hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing about 300 kilograms
(650pounds), was swept down Sabaki River into the Indian Ocean , then
forced back to shore when tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on December 26,before wildlife rangers rescued him.
"It is incredible. A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a male
tortoise, about a century old, and the tortoise seems to be very
happy with being a 'mother'," ecologist Paula Kahumbu, who is in charge of
Lafarge Park , told AFP.
"After it was swept and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized. It had
to look for something to be a surrogate mother.
Fortunately, it landed on the tortoise and established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep together," the ecologist added.
"The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it follows its mother. If somebody approaches the tortoise,
the hippo becomes aggressive, as if protecting its biological mother," Kahumbu added.
"The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very tender age and by
nature,hippos are social animals that like to stay with their mothers for
four years," he explained.
Li fe is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the
moments
that take our breath away!! Wise words to remember for ALL occasions!!
This is a real story that shows that our differences don't matter much
when we need the comfort of another. We could all learn a lesson from
these two creatures of God, Look beyond the differences and find a way to walk the path together.
CLICK ON LINKS BELOW TO VIEW PICTURES!!!!
on theKenyan coast has formed a strong bond with a giant male century-oldtortoise , in an animal facility in the port city of Mombassa ,officials said.
The hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing about 300 kilograms
(650pounds), was swept down Sabaki River into the Indian Ocean , then
forced back to shore when tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on December 26,before wildlife rangers rescued him.
"It is incredible. A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a male
tortoise, about a century old, and the tortoise seems to be very
happy with being a 'mother'," ecologist Paula Kahumbu, who is in charge of
Lafarge Park , told AFP.
"After it was swept and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized. It had
to look for something to be a surrogate mother.
Fortunately, it landed on the tortoise and established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep together," the ecologist added.
"The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it follows its mother. If somebody approaches the tortoise,
the hippo becomes aggressive, as if protecting its biological mother," Kahumbu added.
"The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very tender age and by
nature,hippos are social animals that like to stay with their mothers for
four years," he explained.
Li fe is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the
moments
that take our breath away!! Wise words to remember for ALL occasions!!
This is a real story that shows that our differences don't matter much
when we need the comfort of another. We could all learn a lesson from
these two creatures of God, Look beyond the differences and find a way to walk the path together.
CLICK ON LINKS BELOW TO VIEW PICTURES!!!!
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