A Friendly Hippo Who Was Rescued at One Week Old Plays Big Sister to a Younger Hippo Orphan

A wonderfully friendly hippo named eMMa allowed herself to get in a few hugs from one of her favorite humans at the Care for Wild Africa Sanctuary in Gauteng, South Africa. eMMa had been rescued from a drainpipe when she was just a week old. Now a bit older and healthier, eMMa acts as a big sister to a younger hippo orphan named Molly.

As a baby, eMMa was found stuck and abandoned in the drainage system of a nearby dam. She was brought into the sanctuary for treatment and now acts as a surrogate to her fellow baby hippo companion, Molly.

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.