There’s a new viral baby animal taking over the internet.
Mars, the pygmy hippopotamus was introduced to the world in July by the Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kansas—and has been a star ever since thanks to a viral video of his silly behavior.
In the TikTok, a zookeeper attempts to get the tiny hippo to walk out of the pool. After giving him a few nudges, Mars continues to sit in the water before getting out and then running back into the pool.
That’s when Mars’ mom Poise gets wind of her baby’s behavior and gives him a “stare” before he walks out and follows her. Poking fun of the mother-son interaction, the wildlife park wrote in the text over the video, “Us telling mars it’s time to get out of the pool VS his mom telling him it’s time to get out,” adding in the caption, “Better listen to mom!”
The comments were filled with fans who couldn’t help but gush about the sweet hippo writing, “Great, now I want a baby hippo,” with another user adding, “Baby animals are hilarious.”
Mars got the attention of moms from across the globe who could relate to Poise.
“She gave him the look,” one user commented, “Apparently he only listens to mama.”
Other moms reacted with what they believed Poise actually to her son writing, “Mars potato jones get out of the water now,” and another adding, “GET YO ASSS….Nowwww!!”
Mars also got the attention of Kylie Kelce, who knows a thing or two about raising babies. In a clip from her Not Gonna Lie podcast, Kylie—who shares daughters Wyatt, 5, Elliotte, 4, Bennett, 2, and Finnley, 4 months, with husband Jason Kelce—shared her relatable reaction to Poise’s “mom stare”
“His mom Poise hit him with the mom face,” she quipped. “And I would say 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.’”
“I love that this crosses species,” Kylie added. “That’s not just a human thing that it is a universal mom thing.”
Indeed, Mars has been keeping the internet entertained as he (tries) to show off his new skills with walking, eating solid foods and listening ears. In an Aug. 28 TikTok, the wildlife center put Mars’ ability to stride—without falling to the ground—on display as he joined Poise for dinner.
In the clip, Mars treads behind his mom as she begins to eat, before using her for a meal of his own. As the the caption notes, “Mars is a big boy now.”
