Happy the Common Hippo

Happy, our Common Hippo recovered from his tusk trimming procedure quite quickly and is doing well back in his lake. 

His tusks no longer bother him like they use to when they were long which is a relief not only for Happy but for his dedicated zoo keepers as well.

These animals have approximately 38-40 teeth and their lower canines grow into long tusks, which are used as weapons, so every now and again it is imperative to file down Happy’s tusks which also makes it easier for him to feed.

Happy is a much loved member of the Taronga Western Plains Zoo family. Happy was born on Christmas Eve in 1985 and is 24 years old. He was born at the Zoo to Billy and Lindy and unlike his name suggests Happy is a bit of a grump but could also be described as a handsome hippo with plenty of attitude.

Although they once inhabited Asia and Europe, the Common Hippo is now restricted to the rivers and lakes of Africa. The main predators are the leopard, lion and crocodile, although the jaws of the hippo are so powerful that they can easily snap a crocodile in half if it strays too close to a herd.

Hippos are critical to the overall health of African wetlands. Spending the majority of its life in water environments provides a constant source of organic manure, stimulating plant growth and giving fish a constant food source. The sheer size of the animal keeps rivers from becoming clogged by the water lilies and reeds as the hippos break their way through them.