TONY HEALD / NPL / MINDEN PICTURES (HIPPO, MAIN); MATTHEW TABACCOS / BARCROFT MEDIA / GETTY IMAGES (HIPPO WITH ANIMALS, ALL) AUGUST 2019 • NAT GEO KIDS (^25)
SAFE
ON LAND
ZEBRA IN
TROUBLE
3
4
Yule thinks the drama is over when suddenly the river
grabs hold of a small zebra foal. He watches as the
tiny striped head dips underwater and then resurfaces.
Just when it looks like the zebra won’t make it, the
hippo suddenly appears. Again, the huge hippo helps
the baby across to the shallow water on the other
side. But the exhausted foal can barely stand. Gently,
the hippo nudges the zebra into a safe nook between
two large rocks. “The hippo gets out of the water and
starts to nuzzle the foal with its
great jaws,” Yule says. “And
then the hippo coaxes the
zebra to cross a small
channel and climb
up the slope of the
opposite bank
to its mom.”
Yule thinks the hippo would be too exhausted for
any more superhero moments. But instead it settles
back into the river to keep a watchful eye. “Animals are
unpredictable, and each one has its own unique person-
ality,” Yule says. “This hippo’s instincts are to help those
that need assistance. It’s just like protective people who
say, ‘Not on my watch!’ as they help others.”
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