Charley, the baby hippo is doing just fine
The hippo’s dramatic start to life began when, it seems, he crossed the lake from Mzingazi to Mandlazini in Zululand.
|||Durban - He loves outdoor walks and his bottle. That’s Charley the baby hippo which was rescued by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife rangers just more than a week ago.
The hippo’s dramatic start to life began when, it seems, he crossed the lake from Mzingazi to Mandlazini in Zululand.
According to Richards Bay Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife district officer, Frans Mthembu, he received a call from a man known only as Mr Ngema.
“The lake is low due to the drought. He (Mr Ngema) saw the baby hippo on the road. When the hippo heard him approaching, it ran to him,” said Mthembu, who went to the scene with two other officers.
“We waited to see if the calf’s mother would appear,” said Mthembu.
She did not appear, he said.
The hippo was then taken to Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage and handed over to wildlife specialist, Karen Trendler.
On Friday Trendler said the little hippo “has gone from strength to strength. There is nothing wrong with his attitude and appetite”.
Independent on Saturday