Hula the hippo enjoys her first dip at Whipsnade

Hula – a ten month old named as a mix between her parents’ names Hoover and Lola – took the water on Monday (July 29).

Africa section team leader Mark Holden said: “Hula is Hoover and Lola’s first-born and they have done an excellent job with her so far.

Hula weighed a hefty six stone (40kg) when she was born last September after a 240-day gestation period and will one day weigh approximately 220 stone (1,400kg) when she is fully grown, and reach up to 1.6 metres in height.