Tiny, chubby, and completely irresistible—baby animals always steal the show, and Kansas’ newest resident is no exception. At Tanganyika Wildlife Park, a six-week-old pygmy hippopotamus named Mars is winning hearts (and the internet) with his latest skill: diving like a tiny aquatic Olympian.
Mars was born just over a month ago to proud mama Posie, and in that short time, he’s already developed a strong fanbase. The wildlife park has been sharing his adorable milestones on their TikTok account, @tanganyikawildlifepark, and a recent video shows just how much this little guy has grown.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
In the clip, Mars waddles over to the pool’s underwater ledge, dips his nose in, and then launches himself into the deeper water with the kind of determination only a baby hippo could muster. The best part? He does it over and over again, clearly loving every second.
Zookeepers say Mars has become quite the character—especially when it’s time to head in for the night. He’d much rather stay in his enrichment area (especially the pool), and according to staff, he really only listens to mom. And now that he’s figured out how to dive, getting him out of the water might be more of a challenge than ever.
FYI—yes, hippos do close both their nostrils and ears when underwater. Nature is amazing.
As Mars continues to grow, fans can expect even more adorable updates. But for now, this little diving dynamo is soaking up every minute of pool time, and honestly? Same.