At Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, KS, a 6-week-old pygmy hippo named Mars became an internet sensation after refusing to leave his pool at dinnertime. The rare footage, which has racked up more than 45 million views, shows keepers trying to coax the baby out of the water on a sweltering summer day. Mars wasn’t having it—lounging, splashing, and even darting away from handlers.
The Viral Pool Standoff: Mom Steps In
The playful rebellion ended the moment Mars’s mother, Posie, approached. With one unmistakable “mom stare,” Posie turned the tide. Mars quickly followed her inside without protest, proving that maternal authority transcends species.
“It’s incredible how universal all different species seem to have that mom stare down,” said Matt Fouts, director of Tanganyika Wildlife Park told ABC News. “It’s hilarious to see Posey do that with Mars every day when he just does not want to go inside. He loves being outside.”
A Rare Conservation Win
Mars is one of only three pygmy hippos born in the U.S. last year and one of roughly 3,000 left in the wild. Born at just 13 pounds, he now weighs nearly 40 pounds. For the park, his arrival is a milestone in conservation efforts for the endangered species.
“We’re incredibly excited to have Mars,” Fouts said. “As an endangered species, it’s always important anytime you can have a birth. It’s definitely a testament to all the hard work that our care team does here.”
Meet Mars in Person
Visitors can see Mars and Posie daily from noon to 4 p.m. The park’s staff says he’s even cuter in person and continues to perfect his end-of-day avoidance tactics—until Posie intervenes.
Sierra, the park’s stock supervisor, said Mars’s personality shines through more every day. “Even though every day we have trouble getting him inside, Posey’s got that mom stare down and knows exactly what that means–time to get out of the pool and go in for the day.”
