Meet Mars, the baby pygmy hippo stealing hearts and causing chaos at the Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kansas. This tiny but mighty troublemaker has become an internet sensation thanks to his big personality and stubborn streak — and his hilarious antics are captured perfectly in a now-viral video.
Every evening, Mars’ caregivers try to bring him inside from his outdoor enclosure, but this little guy has other plans. In a video posted in mid-August, Mars can be seen “hiding” in the pool, forcing his caretaker, Sierra, to wade in and coax him out. Spoiler alert: Mars wasn’t having it. The park captioned the video, “On today’s episode of Getting Mars Inside… it’s slow, it’s dramatic, it’s Mars!” and fans can’t get enough.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
The comment section is just as entertaining as the video itself. One viewer joked, “He acts just like a human toddler refusing to go to bed LOL!” while another pointed out, “I like how the mama just goes inside, leaving her stubborn child for the zookeeper to deal with.” Others are dying to know what Mars feels like, with one fan sharing, “They said in one post that he feels like a slimy avocado.”
Curious followers also begged for a behind-the-scenes look at Mars’ indoor space and bedtime routine, while one hilarious commenter summed up the vibe perfectly: “The pool calls. A shocking twist no one saw coming.” Another added, “Whoever is doing your social media deserves a raise!” and honestly, we couldn’t agree more.
Mars may be tiny, but his attitude — and his viral fame — are larger than life. It looks like this baby hippo isn’t just making waves in his pool… he’s making waves online, too.