Lawrence Letshokgohla, the acting Zoo Manager, says the hippo they have nicknamed Molly, was orphaned at two weeks old when her mother was attacked and killed by her father. The father was moved to the Johannesburg Zoo after this incident.

Molly was also harmed in the attack but survived that as well.  Since then she has been raised by a team of three zookeepers who bottle feed her and keep her company.

“In the mornings we prepare fresh milk enriched with egg yolk for her. Now as she becomes bigger we are adding grass to her diet bit by bit,” says Letshokgohla.

The hippo has developed a close bond with her caretakers, Vusi Novole, David van Roos and Malebo Manyola. They have become her new “mother”.

“Remember that hippos are social animals. Molly plays and swims with them, and when she sees our senior zookeeper, Malebo, she follows her around,” explains Letsokgohla.

The zoo is in the process of finding a hippo companion for the calf, within her age range. Letshokgohla says, “At the moment Molly socialises with us but we are in the process of getting her a partner or friend.”

                 Pictures supplied by Mzingisi Nkungwana

                Pictured above: General Manager of Parks Ncedisa Ntulini with Molly

In the meantime the SANDF, assist in cleaning up the Bloemfontein Zoo. Read more

Karen Trendler, well-known wildlife conservationist tells us more about taking care of a baby hippo. Read more