History Heroes Sponsors Bumpy and Friends
The team at History Heroes are so pleased to have sponsored the utterly gorgeous Bumpy the Hippo, and we couldn’t resist sharing his story.
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya is best known for their work to protect elephants. Whilst operating the most successful orphan elephant rescue in the world, it was a baby hippo who stole hearts around the world back in May 2026…
Photo – Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Bumpy the Hippo
On the 2nd of May 2026, a team of wildlife vets found what has been described as a “pint-sized” orphaned hippo laying beside the body of his mother. The little orphan was driven down to Nairobi where he was brought to the care of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and named Bumpy. He is now living at their Kaluku sanctuary near Tsavo East National Park, and is loving being submerged in the Athi River, napping in the shade and chilling with his Keepers. Just when things couldn’t get any cuter… little Bumpy the hippo made friends with Wangalla the elephant! Check out their story on BBC Newsround. You can read all about Bumpy’s rescue on the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s website.
Photo – Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Maybe it’s because we’ve turned our heads away from humans towards animals in making our latest game… but Bumpy immediately captured our hearts. Little Bumpy reminds us of Animal History Hero from A LITTLE SLICE OF ANIMAL HISTORY, Huberta!
Huberta: The Hippopotamus Who Explored South Africa
In 1928 I walked 1000 miles throughout South Africa on my own
Huberta the hippo left her river in Zululand in 1928, and embarked on an incredible journey. She walked more than 1,000 km down the South African coast over three years, visiting towns and even crashing a beach picnic! People adored her, and newspapers chronicled her every move, calling her Hubert until after her death when she was confirmed to be female and her name changed to Huberta. In 1931 it was found that hunters had killed Huberta with guns. Her body was preserved, and she remains a symbol of South African wildlife, and probably the most famous hippopotamus in the world.
Tytan the Rhino
Shortly after sponsoring Bumpy, we came across Tytan. Tytan was spotted in September 2025, near his mother who likely died likely fell from a cliff. After two difficult days attempting to rescue the little rhino, he was safely transported to Nairobi and given his name for his strength and bravery. Tytan became fast friends with Notty, a little orphaned Zebra, and they remain inseparable! His keepers say Tytan is a gentle little guy, who loves to run, and huff and puff!
Photo – Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
The Sheldrick Wildlife trust reports that Kenya’s black rhino population plummeted 98% between 1970 and 1983 due to poaching. Conservation efforts mean black rhinos are making a slow recovery in numbers. Our own Animal Hero from A LITTLE SLICE OF ANIMAL HISTORY Clara the Rhino was affected by hunting when she was orphaned in India…
Clara the Rhino: The European Celebrity
I became famous, touring Europe in the 1700s
Clara was a rhinoceros born in India in around 1738. She was taken in by an official from the Dutch East India Company after her mother was killed by hunters. Clara’s life was remarkable! She went on to become quite the explorer; Clara the rhino toured Europe for 17 years, meeting kings, queens, fascinated scientists and public crowds. Most of these people would never have seen any animal like a Rhino before! Having arrived from Asia as a calf, Clara became one of the first rhinos most Europeans had ever seen. Clara was put on coins, and she quickly inspired fashion and art of the time. There’s a picture of her by the artist, Pietro Longhi, in the National Gallery in London. Today, Clara the rhino is remembered as an animal symbol of the Age of Enlightenment, a time when scientific curiosity was changing how people saw the world.
Learn more about Bumpy, Tytan, Wangalla, and the amazing work of Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Explore History’s greatest Animal Heroes in History Heroes’ card game A LITTLE SLICE OF ANIMAL HISTORY.