Different animals have different reactions towards the same things, just like us humans. And sometimes, these reactions can be extremely adorable and funny. Case in point: this baby hippo at the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia.
Playing on its own, this young hippo suddenly found itself at the mercy of a small flock of oxpeckers that swooped down on its back. At first, the hippo tolerated the birds for about 10 seconds before deciding that it was time for them to leave. But the oxpeckers refused to budge. That’s when the hilarious story began.
Frightened and anxious, the hippo tried its best to scare off the unwelcome passengers. It twisted its body and ran around to get the birds off but to no avail. It even tried fake running into the water in an attempt to shake off the oxpeckers. The funniest part is that the birds seemed to be enjoying the hippo’s ordeal and continued to peck at its back.
Normally, the oxpeckers and hippos have a mutually beneficial relationship – the birds help the hippos get rid of ticks and other parasites by feeding on them. But this baby hippo clearly sees the birds as an annoyance and pesters it so much that the birds finally give up and fly away.
These hilarious moments were captured on camera by photographer Marc Mol, who was focusing on a pod of hippos when he saw the baby hippo running towards him with the oxpeckers on its back. “I was at first astonished as to what was going on, seeing this baby hippo running towards me and the safety of water, and then realized it was a small flock of Oxpeckers that were the culprits. It was very amusing to witness,” Marc Mol said.
When Marc shared the photos on the internet, they quickly went viral. People couldn’t stop laughing at the hippo’s predicament and its hilarious facial expressions. While some may feel sorry for the young animal, it’s hard not to appreciate the comedic value of the situation.
In the animal world, just like in our world, different creatures see the same thing differently. And sometimes, these differences can lead to some hilarious and adorable moments. This baby hippo’s battle with the oxpeckers is a perfect example of that.
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