Mars the Pygmy Hippo Steals Hearts with Pool Drama and Mom Power
Avery Sinclair here, your favorite cynic with a caffeine addiction and a healthy skepticism toward anything that trends on TikTok. Let’s talk about the internet’s newest obsession: a baby hippo named Mars who apparently thinks he’s too cute to listen to his mom. Groundbreaking.
So, in case you’ve been living under a rock—or maybe just avoiding social media—you’ve probably missed the viral sensation that is Mars, the pygmy hippopotamus currently residing at the Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kansas. Introduced to the public back in July, Mars has been doing what all toddlers do best: testing boundaries, making messes, and occasionally pretending he can’t hear his mother when she tells him to get out of the pool.
In a now-viral TikTok clip, Mars is seen lounging in the water like a tiny, semi-aquatic loaf of bread while a zookeeper tries to coax him out. He eventually shuffles out, only to immediately bolt back into the water like a rebellious toddler with a death wish. Cue Poise, Mars’ mom, who delivers what can only be described as the universal “mom stare” that transcends species and time zones.
The caption? “Us telling Mars it’s time to get out of the pool VS his mom telling him it’s time to get out.” Because of course. And yes, Poise wins. As she should. Because even baby hippos need to learn that water is not a lifestyle.
Fans flooded the comments with variations of “I want a baby hippo,” “This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” and “That’s not just a human mom face—that’s a universal truth.” One commenter even imagined what Poise was really saying: “Mars potato jones get out of the water now.” Another added, “GET YO ASSS… Nowwww!!” Relatable.
Even Kylie Kelce, known for her podcast and her own brood of four children, chimed in. On her *Not Gonna Lie* podcast, she praised Poise’s parenting skills, saying, “11/10 Poise. I do like that she went to the extra effort of walking to the edge of their pool like, ‘Hey you see how far I had to walk over here to collect your ass? That means you better have some pep in your step.’” And honestly? That’s just solid life advice, hippo or not.
Mars, for his part, continues to be a tiny, waddling ball of chaos. In a follow-up video from late August, he was seen attempting to walk without face-planting into the dirt, and also trying solid food like a confused toddler. The wildlife park captioned it with, “Mars is a big boy now,” which is both true and deeply ironic, considering he’s still being spoon-fed by his mom.
So yes, the internet is obsessed. Yes, Mars is cute. And yes, we’ve all been here before with Moo Deng and every other viral baby animal. But let’s be real—this is exactly the kind of wholesome distraction we need right now. Even if it does involve a 200-pound baby throwing a tantrum in a kiddie pool.
And that’s today’s dose of reality. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News
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