Hippo Floats On Its Back And Soaks Up The Sun

The hippo decided to relax in a very unusual way for its kind by floating in the water while its legs were quite high in the air.

Damjan

• Published in Animals
• September 29, 2022

While being enormous land creatures, Hippos like being in the water, but this particular one had made an odd choice on how to do so.

The hippo decided to relax in a very unusual way for its kind by floating in the water while its legs were quite high in the air!

The huge creature was seen floating on its back in the water, eager to give its pink belly a tan. The strange image was captured by amateur photographer Jackie Cilliers in South Africa's Kruger National Park.

Nothing comes to spending a lazy day at the beach, the sun on your face, and clearing your mind. However, it turns out that this applies to wild animals as well, and this enormous hippo is certainly good at relaxing. The huge animal decided to take advantage of the sunny weather.

Photographer Jackie Cilliers captured the unusual event while photographing the hippo in South Africa's Kruger National Park.

Jackie said: 'The images show the hippo pushing off his friend, rolling over, relaxing on his back, and yawning.

'At first, I thought that it might be injured or ill, but it happened several times and remained stationary on its back for several minutes at a time.

Let's know this big guy better.

52-year-old Cilliers was visiting the area with her family when she spotted a hippo while he was resting in this strange way.

52-year-old Cilliers was visiting the area with her family when she spotted a hippo while he was resting. At first, Jackie thought that the animal was hurt or injured because the hippo remain still for several minutes, but it was just lying around. The hippo chooses to rest in a very unique method for its species - by floating in the water.

Everyone was astonished by the unusual scene, even Cilliers, who couldn't help but chuckle along with the others when he saw the hippo was only attempting to add a little tan to its belly.

Everyone was astonished by the unusual scene, even Cilliers, who couldn't help but chuckle along with the others when he saw the hippo was only attempting to add a little tan to its belly.

Jackie has started her own YouTube channel featuring "some of our interesting experiences on safari" and has a number of breathtaking wildlife photographs and movies to share.

'The hippo risked being attacked by its mate whom it kept pushing on to turn over.

'The hippo risked being attacked by its mate whom it kept pushing on to turn over.

Jackie said yesterday: “I first saw him at Ntandanyathi hide which is a couple of kilometres from the Sabie River near Lower Sabie. In the drought he relocated, and was then seen at places including Sunset dam.”

'I doubt I will ever see this again as it is the first time I or anyone I know has seen this.''

“It [the hippo] was pushing off his friend, rolling over, relaxing on his back and yawning,” Cilliers said. “What I love most is his pink tummy. I doubt I will ever see this again as it is the first time I or anyone I know has seen this.”

'I doubt I will ever see this again as it is the first time I or anyone I know has seen this.''

Sub-Saharan Africa is the home of hippos. Since they spend the majority of their time underwater to keep their skin cool and wet, they reside in locations with a lot of water. Hippos, which are regarded as amphibians, can spend up to 16 hours a day in the water.

The “method of relaxing” is strange for any animal, actually. The belly is the animals' most sensitive body part, and they would do anything to protect it. The very fact that the hippo had its belly exposed shows that it was extremely relaxed. We get so jealous when we look at it. Aren’t we?

Damjan