'You're not the boss of me!': Adorable baby hippo refuses to get out of the pool at the zoo until his momma steps in to correct her toddler's tantrum in the most heartwarming way

Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager

Aug 8, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

If you thought your mom was tough, she's got nothing on the animal mom in this video, who's got tough skin and a tougher parenting style! It turns out that moms will be moms no matter what species they are, and kids will be kids whether they have two legs or four. When our puppy was in her toddler phase, she was simultaneously the cutest thing in the world and also the most wanted criminal in our household. She would snuggle with us…. and then, at the drop of a hat, turn into a land shark that could not be satisfied until she had bitten off all of our toes.

Anyway, the toddler we're talking about today is a pawsitively adorable baby hippo who is having the most fun swimming. A blast. So much fun that he doesn't want to get out. He refuses and runs away from his handlers, until his momma steps in and gets him to follow her. There's no power in the universe stronger than a mom telling her kids to do something, right?

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“Nooooooooo! You can't make me! I don't want toooooooo!” - this is probably what the baby hippo is saying. At least, that's what we would be saying if we were in their position. This toddler just learned to use the word “no", and once they learn that word, then there's no going back.
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We're glad the world is finally catching on to how cute hippos are. Yes, they may be one of the most dangerous wild animals, but if there is anything Moo Deng has taught us this year, it's that hippos deserve their spotlight amongst the cutest baby animals on earth.
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