A tiny orphaned hippo in Kenya is melting hearts around the world after rescuers found him desperately trying to wake his dead mother before he was finally brought to safety.
The baby hippo, now named Bumpy, was discovered on May 2 near Oloiden Resort in Naivasha, Kenya, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
When rescuers arrived, they found the tiny calf standing beside his mother’s lifeless body, refusing to leave her side.
According to the wildlife rescue team, Bumpy was repeatedly nudging his mother with his nose and calling out to her, seemingly hoping she would wake up.
The heartbreaking scene left rescuers devastated.
Officials believe the mother hippo had likely been dead for at least a day before help arrived.
Wildlife experts suspect she may have died from natural causes or possibly while protecting her calf during a territorial fight with other hippos.
The rescue group noted that infanticide among wild hippos is unfortunately common, making young calves especially vulnerable after losing their mothers.
With nowhere else to go, little Bumpy reportedly stayed beside his mother until rescuers finally stepped in.
The rescue operation itself was described as difficult and dangerous because of the terrain and the size of the frightened baby hippo.
Thankfully, rescuers were able to safely move him without injury.
After being rescued, Bumpy was transported to Nairobi, where caretakers at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust immediately began giving him around-the-clock care.
That first night, the exhausted calf was wrapped in a bright red blanket, bottle-fed warm milk, and comforted by one of his human caretakers named Simon.
According to the rescue team, Bumpy quickly bonded with the humans caring for him and desperately craved affection after the traumatic loss of his mother.
“After his fraught ordeal, he finally felt at peace,” the rescue organization shared.
The following day, Bumpy was flown by helicopter to the trust’s Kaluku facility near Tsavo East National Park, where he will continue recovering.
Caretakers said the tiny hippo appeared surprisingly calm during the helicopter ride and even climbed into a rescuer’s lap while softly grunting throughout the flight.
Now safe at his new home, Bumpy spends much of his time swimming in his own private pool, cuddling with caretakers, and napping on soft mattresses.
“He is a very snuggly creature and is happiest when nestled on or against someone,” the trust said.
Bumpy has also slowly been introduced to another young rescued hippo named Musumbi, though the two are still getting used to each other.
Wildlife experts say hippo calves normally stay closely attached to their mothers for years in the wild, which makes losing a mother at such a young age incredibly traumatic.
For now, caretakers are focused on helping Bumpy feel safe, loved, and healthy again — and one day, they hope he’ll eventually be strong enough to join wild hippos living nearby.