Dec 19, 2008: Bertha & Baby Butt

[xoxoxoBruce]

Neatorama had a link to this Daily Mail story.

It is the ultimate in swimming lessons as Paula the baby hippo struggles to keep up with her mother Kathi.
Born at Berlin Zoo just 18 days ago, the little cub weighs 6st 4lbs and is approximately 50 inches long. Fully grown she will weigh as much as two tonnes - like her mother.

Hippos swim from the moment they are born underwater and must immediately propel themselves to the surface to take their first breath.
Contrary to belief, adult hippos cannot actually swim - but travel through the water by pushing themselves off the bottom.

Paula, on the other hand, is rather more buoyant and able to move along by kicking her back legs in a running motion. If the water becomes too deep, then she will rest on her mother's back - surfacing for air roughly every four minutes.

[SPUCK]

Artificially clean.. I note.

[Trilby]

Fun Fact: Hippos are the most dangerous animal in Africa. /funfact

[Flint]

Originally Posted by Brianna

Fun Fact: Hippos are the most dangerous animal in Africa. /funfact

You can tell, by the evil gleam in their eyes...

Originally Posted by Leokins

Your mom's so fat she drops like a hippo in water...
cute picture nonetheless ^_-

edit: that's not directed at anyone, just a random statement

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

No, it's too late. I've taken it personally.

Fie on you! My pet, baby hippo was killed by a random statement that was taken personally in the WTC on 9/11.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by Flint

Fie on you! My pet, baby hippo was killed by a random statement that was taken personally in the WTC on 9/11.

Damn...

[ZenGum]

anal: except humans. and mosquitoes /anal

Awww, that's cute. Gotta love baby animals. Got a photo of the other end?

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

anal: except humans. and mosquitoes /anal

Consider yourself punched, nerd.

[Leokins]

Your mom's so fat she drops like a hippo in water...
cute picture nonetheless ^_-

edit: that's not directed at anyone, just a random statement

[tulzscha]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

anal: except humans. and mosquitoes /anal

Well... The mosquitoes aren't dangerous in and of themselves, it's the diseases they carry. And those are either viruses (Dengue) or protozoans (Malaria), neither of which are "animals."

It's commonly said that "hippos are the most dangerous LARGE animal in Africa." That's a more accurate statement because humans aren't "large" and there are a whole host of little flatworms that do a whole lot more harm (Schistosomiasis) than hippos.

Butt, hey, ever wonder how hippos mark their territory?

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by tulzscha

Butt, hey, ever wonder how hippos mark their territory?

That's kept me awake many a long night.

[tulzscha]

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

That's kept me awake many a long night.

I plow directly over your sarcasm, and provide the answer:

"To mark territory, hippos spin their tails while defecating to distribute their excrement over the greatest possible area."

It is, if you've ever seen it, the proverbial shit hitting the fan. Just look at those tail muscles, and imagine it wagging back and forth at 600rpm.

[jinx]

Fun Fact: Hippos are the most dangerous animal in Africa. /funfact

They are not one of the "big 5" animals of Africa, those considered the most dangerous and difficult to hunt. They are lion, cape buffalo, leopard, elephant, and rhino.

My dad got buffalo a couple years ago but won't be hunting the rest because he likes them... same reason he won't hunt bears.

[sweetwater]

Just 2 more questions to accurately answer, and the mom hippo will finish the Trivial Pursuit games. Oh, and thanks for the inspiration - the diet starts today!

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Leokins

edit: that's not directed at anyone, just a random statement

No, it's too late. I've taken it personally.

[skysidhe]

I never thought I'd think hippo butts were cute!