There are many similarities between baby animals of any species and human toddlers. In fact, it’s almost funny how alike they can be sometimes. Everything we see in children, from refusing to come inside for dinner to throwing tantrums when things don’t go their way, can also be seen in tiny animals, too.
Mars, the baby Pygmy Hippo living at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Kansas, has kept his caregivers on their toes from the very beginning. He quickly gained a reputation for his evasive maneuvers, such as ducking underwater to hide or slipping past Keeper Sierra when it was time to go into his enclosure for the evening.
It’s safe to say that not much has changed over the last 9 months! Mars is still testing the limits and the anxiety level of his caregivers, and he’s living his life with exactly zero regrets! In a recent TikTok video, the baby Pygmy Hippo is seen lounging on a rock ledge, and apparently, he’s just too close to the edge for Keeper Sierra’s liking.
She gently tries to encourage him to come down, but he politely declines—or perhaps just ignores her, which is a more accurate way to describe what’s happening between them. As the narrator describes the scene, he says that instead of coming down from the steep rock ledge, Mars “decided to pose like he was paid to appear on the cover of Vogue!”
Related: Baby Hippo’s Hilarious Underwater Swim-Along Wins the Internet
Eventually, the little hippo’s mom, Posie, came over to address the situation, and with a bit more guidance from Sierra, Mars reluctantly stepped down from the rocks. The zoo caretaker quickly took measures to prevent him from climbing the ledge again by placing large sticks across the pathway.
Everyone Is Obsessed With This Little Hippo
From the very beginning, Mars has had a large fan base, and they continue to adore him today. Nearly 100 followers shared their thoughts on this little guy and his sass, including these highlights:
“I have no idea how much Keeper Sierra makes, but it cannot possibly be enough to keep Mars from disaster!”
“Talk about main character energy… It’s okay cause he totally is the main character!”
“Mama said, ‘Stop embarrassing me in front of the humans! Get it together!’”
“Rebel without a cause!!! Zoo GQ, get on this! Mars is the next one on the cover!!”
The staff at Tanganyika Wildlife Park has a special way of sharing animals and their daily lives, and it’s so fun to get a front-row seat! Can’t wait to see what Mars and Keeper Sierra are up to next!
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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Apr 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.