Obaysch facts for kids
Obaysch was a very special hippopotamus who became famous in London! He was the first hippo anyone had seen in Great Britain for thousands of years, since prehistoric times. He was also the first hippo in Europe since the days of Ancient Rome. Obaysch was born around 1849 and lived until March 11, 1878. He was captured when he was less than one year old on an island in the White Nile river. His name, Obaysch, came from the name of that island.
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Obaysch: London's First Hippo
Obaysch became a huge sensation when he arrived in London. People were so excited to see a real hippopotamus! He attracted as many as 10,000 visitors to the London Zoo every single day. His popularity even led to a trend of hippo-themed items and a special dance song called the "Hippopotamus Polka." In 1850, the year Obaysch arrived, the number of visitors to the Zoo doubled compared to the year before!
A Long Journey to London
The ruler of Egypt, Abbas Pasha, made a deal with a British official named Sir Charles Murray. They agreed to trade Obaysch and some other interesting animals for some fast hunting dogs called greyhounds and deerhounds.
Obaysch began his long journey by boat down the Nile River to Cairo. He even had a herd of cows with him to provide him with fresh milk! From Cairo, he traveled by steamer to Southampton in England. He finally arrived at the London Zoo on May 25, 1850.
Family Life at the Zoo
A few years later, Abbas Pasha sent another hippo to London. This was a female named Adhela, and she arrived on July 22, 1854. Obaysch and Adhela lived together at the Zoo for many years.
After more than 16 years, they finally had their first baby hippo in 1871. Sadly, this calf only lived for two days. The next year, they had another calf, but it also died quickly. However, their third baby, a female born on November 5, 1872, survived! She was named Guy Fawkes. Adhela lived four years longer than Obaysch, passing away on December 16, 1882. Their daughter, Guy Fawkes, lived until March 20, 1908.
The Great Escape
There's a famous story about Obaysch escaping from his enclosure at the London Zoo. The legend says that a brave zookeeper had to act as bait to trick Obaysch into going back inside his home!
