WHEN WILL THE HIPPOS LEAVE?

Chloe and Zoey, the deer sisters were playing near Emerald Pond with the spring’s first butterflies, when suddenly they saw a hippopotamus approaching from a distance.

- Ilika Priya

“Hey, both of you, run and hide! A hippopotamus is coming!” Charlie monkey shouted, scrambling up a nearby tree.

“You’re panicking unnecessarily, Charlie. Look how far away he is. Plus, he’s so heavy. It will take him hours to reach us,” Chloe laughed and said.

“Despite his huge size, he runs very fast. Hippos can clock almost 30 kilometers per hour,” Charlie informed Chloe, from his safe seat on a high branch.

“Then he will reach here sooner than we think!” Zoey raised her tufty little tail in concern.

“That’s why I’m saying, hide, or you'll become his prey!” Charlie squealed, but Zoey made a face and said, “Prey? Check your facts! Do you know these guys are herbivores? They mostly come out after sunset, and eat up to 45 kilograms of grass in a single night! He will not eat us, silly.”

“Oh, you guys know so little,” Charlie held his forehead.

“Yes, they are herbivores, but they are aggressive! They trample over anything in their way, and attack when they feel annoyed. Even lions fear them!”

“Is that so? Then let’s hurry up and get out of here!” Zoey said worriedly, and both she and Chloe hid in nearby bushes. Charlie clambered down and joined them.

They peered through the leaves, and to their alarm, not one, but five hippos were ambling towards Emerald Pond!

“Wow, there are so many of them!” Zoey said in surprise.

“Yes, they live in groups, sometimes as large as 20 or 30 hippos in one,” Charlie whispered.

“What?!” Both Chloe and Zoey were shocked.

“By the way, why are they coming here? To drink water?” Zoey piped up.