The third largest land animal on Earth and arguably the most entertaining - our printable hippo mask is a safari sensation! With that enormous barrel-shaped body, huge yawning mouth and stumpy legs, the hippo is one of Africa's most extraordinary creatures, and this mask captures all that magnificent bulk and attitude brilliantly. Perfect for African animals school plays, World Book Day, birthday parties, and very wide imaginative play.

The hippo is a brilliant subject for African habitats topics - its role in river ecosystems is surprising and fascinating, and kids are always genuinely shocked to learn just how dangerous it really is despite looking so comical. Every mask comes with a full colour version AND a black and white line art version for colouring in.

5 Interesting Facts About Hippos!

Hippos are considered the most dangerous large land animal in Africa - they're responsible for an estimated 500 human deaths per year, far more than lions or crocodiles.
They're surprisingly fast on land - despite weighing up to 4,500kg, hippos can run at up to 30km/h over short distances, faster than most humans.
Hippos secrete a natural sunscreen from their skin - a red oily fluid sometimes called 'blood sweat' that moisturises their skin, acts as a sunblock and has antimicrobial properties.
Despite spending most of their time in water, hippos can't swim - they walk or bounce along the bottom of rivers and lakes, surfacing to breathe every 3–5 minutes, even while sleeping.
Hippos are more closely related to whales and dolphins than to any land animal - they share a common ancestor that took to the water around 55 million years ago.

Printable Hippo Mask

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