pink hippos

[the who #3]

does anyone know why one of the hippos at animal kingdom park is hot pink? i have been on the safari many times and also the safari from animal kingdom resort and i have never seen or read about a pink hippo. there was only one. i wondered if he or she was a different breed of hippo. that one also appeared to be the largest of the hippo's that was out of the water.

 

[WDSearcher]

It's not really a "hot pink" hippo -- it's a regular Nile Hippopotamus that has less hair growth, so you see more of its skin, which an appear pink in the sunlight. It is one of the oldest hippos in the group, so that may have something to do with the lack of hair as well as size.

 

[ferd]

When I was on the safari Saturday before last, the 'pink' hippo was laying up on the side (sadly with vultures around him) and so many people on our trek seemed so worried about him. The CM driving our safari said he looked sun burned. But that's just what was said, I don't know anything about hippos and their body chemistry, etc. He very well may just be naturally pink and was just hanging out.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Could be leucism, where the skin produces less pigment, but it seems like the CM should know and be able to tell the visitors.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/photogalleries/100929-pink-hippo-hippopotamus-leucism-leucistic-science-kenya-pictures/

 

[SA mom]

The San Antonio Zoo has hippos that appear pink sometimes, too. The zoo keeper said something about excreting a reddish oil when they sweat. It almost looks like blood.