Henry the Hippo

Henry the Hippo

Hi, everyone! My name is Bobby and I’m a bird. I live on the back of a hippopotamus— a male hippopotamus, actually. His name is Henry. Henry and I live near a lake in Africa. Hippos live near rivers and lakes all over Africa. But they don’t live on any other continent. How did a tiny bird and a big hippo become friends? Well, we help each other out!

I eat ticks and bugs off Henry’s body. In return, he lets me live on his back. Hippos help other animals too. There are many plants around the rivers, swamps, and lakes. Henry makes a path through the thick plants. Then other animals can walk to the water. Henry also helps plants. Henry poops in the water, but it’s okay.

The plants grow strong from the nutrients in his poop. Other animals eat the plants and get strong. As you know, it gets extremely hot in Africa. Do you wear suntan lotion to protect your skin from the bright sun? Believe it or not, Henry makes his own suntan lotion! He sweats red oil. The oil prevents his skin from cracking or burning. I like to put some on my beak when I am hot!

In ancient Greece, people thought hippos sweated blood. But I know it is just skin oil. Henry spends most of the day in the water. It’s cooler there, and Henry’s skin is especially suited to water. But Henry isn’t a very good swimmer. He usually walks on the river or lake floor. Hippos’ eyes, nostrils, and ears are on the tops of their heads.

This helps them breathe and watch for danger when they are in the water. Henry can also stay underwater for five minutes. He closes his nostrils and presses his ears against his head. That way, water does not get in. When Henry comes out of the water, he makes funny snorts and hisses. It’s hot now, but soon it will be evening. In the evening Henry and I leave the lake.