A large adult hippopotamus stands protectively beside a much smaller newborn hippo calf on a muddy riverbank with sparse vegetation and water in the background.

Hippopotamus Mother With Newborn Calf

Camera: NIKON Z 9
Aperture: f/6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/2000s
ISO: 320
Focal Length: 800mm

A female hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) stands with her newborn calf on muddy riverbank in the Masai Mara, Kenya. The mother remains close to her offspring in the shallow water and sandy habitat typical of freshwater river environments in East Africa. © 2026 Chris Smith. All rights reserved.