National Hippo Day

The hippopotamus is an animal listed in the Red Book, so it is very important to preserve the population of hippos and prevent their disappearance. Every year, on February 15, National Hippo Day is. On this day, solemn events are held in the world’s major zoos and reserves where these interesting animals live.

History

This holiday began to be when the hippopotamus was officially listed in the world Red Book as a species of animal that is in danger. Due to the irrational economic activities of humans, many places where hippos are accustomed to live have changed their landscape. For example, many rivers have become shallow, making these areas unsuitable for hippos. The struggle for the preservation of the hippopotamus population is carried out by scientists and employees of zoos and national parks.

Interesting facts

• The hippopotamus received its official name, “hippopotamus,” because it loves water and has hooves; the word “hippopotamus” in Greek means “water horse.”
• The hippopotamus is a herbivore, but it can be very aggressive, especially during mating games when males fight for the attention of females.
• Externally, the hippopotamus resembles a pig and belongs to the order Artiodactyla.
• Hippos live and breed well in captivity, so they can often be found in large zoos.

How to celebrate

The best way to celebrate this day is to donate money to any zoo for the maintenance of hippos or buy what these animals need and bring gifts to the zoo administration. Any help will be welcome. You can spend this day working in the zoo as a volunteer. Zoos and national parks on this day can sell souvenirs in the form of hippos from a variety of materials, from soft toys to clay figurines.

Together with children, you can watch interesting cartoons and read fairy tales about hippos, as many works of art for children are dedicated to these animals. A good option is to throw a party and wear hippopotamus costumes. On this day, you can also celebrate other animals, such as pets, because everyone needs love.

When is National Hippo Day in 2025?

National Hippo Day is observed on February 15 each year.

Observations