NEW BEST FRIENDS!
What a great pair these two make! There is a story widely circulated on the Net stating that the baby hippo was caught up in the Tsunami disaster. But in actuality, wildlife rangers discovered him near certain death in the Indian Ocean off Malindi. After rescue the one-year-old male hippo calf dubbed Owen was placed in Haller Park, a wildlife sanctuary in the coastal city of Mombassa, Kenya, on December 27, 2004.
Owen was placed in an enclosure with a male tortoise, named Mzee (”old man”). Mzee was not too thrilled as first but soon the two formed a close relationship and now eat and sleep together. It is hoped that Owen will form a relationship with a lovely and lonely female hippo as soon as he matures a bit! Tsunami or no Tusunami I think this is a charming story. Orphaned baby animals have a very difficult time surviving but coupled with care provided by capable wildlife rangers and the friendship with Mzee, little Owen has a great chance at survival! 