Meet Bumpy: The Adorable Baby Hippo Snuggling His Way to Survival in Kenya

A baby hippo in Kenya has captured the hearts of many after being rescued from a difficult situation. The young hippo, now named Bumpy, was found by the Kenya Wildlife Service at a lake, desperately nudging its mother who had sadly passed away. The rescue team realized that Bumpy was only a few days old and needed urgent help. They believe the mother hippo may have died from natural causes or possibly during a fight to protect her calf, as such fights are not uncommon among hippos. The rescue was not easy, as Bumpy was clinging to his mother’s body, making it hard for the team to reach him safely. In the end, they had to use the mother’s body as an anchor to get to the calf, which was a tough decision for everyone involved.

Once Bumpy was rescued, he was taken to a nursery in Nairobi, where he was cared for by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a charity known for helping orphaned animals. At the nursery, Bumpy was fed milk and kept warm with a blanket. The keepers noticed that Bumpy was very attached to them, always wanting to be close and seeking comfort. After spending his first night in Nairobi, Bumpy was flown by helicopter to the Kaluku sanctuary, which is near Tsavo East National Park. This sanctuary is a safe place for young animals to grow and heal before they are released back into the wild. At Kaluku, Bumpy spends his days in a pool near the Athi River, always accompanied by a keeper who stays with him both in and out of the water. The keepers say that Bumpy is happiest when he is snuggled up next to someone, and he loves to rest his head on their laps.

Bumpy is not alone at the sanctuary. There is another young hippo who is almost a year old, but the two are kept in separate areas for now. Both hippos will eventually be released into the wild when they are old enough to join other hippos. In the wild, hippo calves usually stay with their mothers for several years, so the keepers at Kaluku will continue to care for Bumpy until he is ready to be independent. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has a long history of rescuing and caring for orphaned animals, including elephants and rhinos. Their goal is to help these animals return to the wild and live healthy, natural lives. Bumpy’s story is a reminder of the challenges that wildlife face and the important work being done to protect them.