Hippo Calf Colouring

A big hippopotamus and its playful calf splash through a shallow African river in this cheerful family scene. Common hippos are native to sub-Saharan Africa and depend on rivers, lakes and wetlands. They spend hot daytime hours in water or mud, which keeps their skin cool and protected, then often walk onto land after sunset to graze. An adult may be about 1.3 to 1.6 metres tall at the shoulder, more than 3 metres long and weigh roughly 1,300 to 3,200 kilograms. Although their bodies look round and heavy, hippos can move quickly. They commonly live around 40 to 50 years when conditions are favourable. A hippo mother normally gives birth to one calf. Calves can nurse underwater and learn to rest on their mother's back when they need support. Mother and baby recognize one another by sound, smell and close contact. Hippos live in social groups, sometimes called pods, but each mother pays special attention to her own youngster. Their eyes, ears and nostrils sit high on the head, allowing most of the body to remain underwater while they watch, listen and breathe. In the picture, both animals are fully visible in very shallow water, stepping through ripples and making small outlined splashes. Reeds and lily pads frame the river without crowding the family. For realistic colours, use slate grey, grey-brown or muted purple for the bodies. A soft rosy pink works well around the ears, eyes, nose and belly. Keep the teeth cream rather than bright white, and give the calf a slightly lighter coat. Colour the water blue or turquoise, the lily pads green and the water flower pink, yellow or purple. Reeds can be fresh green with brown seed heads. Try smooth, broad strokes on the hippos and wavy horizontal strokes across the river. Leave small white spaces inside splash droplets so they sparkle. If you prefer fantasy colours, make the calf sky blue or violet and give the lily pads rainbow edges. Add a frog, dragonfly or warm sunset in the open background to finish this happy river adventure.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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