Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Odd couple's bond threatened by love rival

Elizabeth Davies
Wednesday 28 December 2005 20:36 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

They were brought together by a giant wave and it seems nothing can keep them apart. The unlikely couple of a baby hippo and a 130-year-old tortoise is still going strong - a year after the hippo was wrenched from his family by the Boxing Day tsunami.

Owen, the two-year-old hippopotamus, was found alone and dehydrated near Kenya's Indian Ocean coast after he became separated from his herd when the tsunami crashed into the shores of east Africa. He had been washed into the ocean and was stranded on a reef.

Rescuers in Malindi, a coastal town, used fishing nets to catch him and Owen was taken to the Haller Park sanctuary in Mombasa. The hippo was soon introduced to Mzee, an Aldabran tortoise whose grey colouring and rotund form was similar to an adult hippo.

But the relationship may soon come under threat when Mzee has to cope with a rival for Owen's affections, a 13-year-old hippo named Cleo who has survived 10 years without companionship from her species.

Mzee (which means old man in Swahili) initially resisted Owen's attentions, hissing and warning him to stay away. But after days of being followed around the park, into the pool and even into bed, Mzee relented and has since acted as Owen's surrogate father.

Park officials say the pair have been inseparable ever since. Pauline Kimoto, the park's tourism manager, said: "Since Owen arrived on 27 December, the tortoise behaves like a mother to him. The hippo follows the tortoise around and licks his face."

Conservation workers at Haller Park plan to introduce the female hippo early next year, hoping the two develop a strong bond which could result in reproduction. The delicate process will begin by getting the animals used to each other's smell before moving them into a larger enclosure - together, of course, with Mzee.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in