What do you want for Christmas? Is it a hippopotamus? Listen to the song, then learn some hippo facts!

Did You Know?

• Hippopotamus means “river horse.”
• This animal is considered the third largest in the world (after the elephant and white rhino).
• Hippos are found in Africa. They have barrel-shaped bodies with short legs and big mouths.
• Surprisingly, the closest relations of the hippopotamus are cetaceans such as whales and dolphins.
• This creature may look clumsy and slow, but it can outrun a human.
• Hippos are know to be extremely aggressive, especially if they feel threatened. They are regarded as being one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.
• They dine mostly on grass.
• A male hippo is called a ‘bull,’ females are ‘cows,’ and the baby is a ‘calf.’
• A group of hippos is known as a bloat.
• The female gives birth to her baby in the water.

In 2017, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden did get a hippopotamus for Christmas. They welcomed a 26-year-old female pygmy hippopotamus named, Francesca.

Franny is confident and calm with a love for carrots, yams, cucumbers and apples. She joined Wolee, a 43-year-old male pygmy hippo, at the Zoo’s pachyderm habitat.

What do you think of the hippopotamus? Would it make a good Christmas present? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section.