"Making Waves"

A pencil drawing of a mother hippo and calf (Hippopotamus amphibius).

Female hippos give birth to their young in a secluded area of a river or lake away from the herd. A mother will keep her newborn calf isolated for several weeks until it has grown strong enough to be introduced to the other herd members but she will remain fiercely protective of her young until it has been fully weaned. This calf had only recently joined the herd and its mother was keeping a close eye not only on her baby's antics but also on us, as we sat quietly on the bank.

The Moremi Game Reserve
April 2002