Hippopotamus, Tourist attraction in Saint-Aignan, France
The Hippopotamus exhibit is a tourist attraction at Zoo Beauval in Saint-Aignan, France, where visitors can watch live hippos in a large enclosure built around a deep water pond. The space includes rocks, plants, and glass viewing panels that let you see the animals both above and below the water surface.
Hippos evolved millions of years ago and once lived across large parts of Africa. Today, their numbers in the wild have dropped sharply due to poaching and the loss of their natural water habitats.
The name hippopotamus comes from Greek and means roughly 'river horse,' pointing to how closely the animal is tied to water. Despite that name, hippos are more closely related to whales and dolphins than to any horse.
The exhibit is most rewarding to visit in the early morning or late afternoon, when the animals tend to be more active. Plan to spend a little time at both the above-water viewing area and the underwater glass panels for a fuller experience.
Hippos secrete a reddish liquid that looks like blood but actually works as a natural sunscreen and helps protect against infection. This substance can give their skin a faintly reddish tone that visitors close to the glass may notice on sunny days.
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