Tsunami Friends: Owen and Mzee
Animal Stories from All-Creatures.org

August 2009
The tsunami in south Asia reached as far as the east coast of Africa.

Newspapers picked up the story of a baby hippo who was washed out to sea with his mom and the rest of his herd. The baby hippo washed back up on shore but his mom and the others didn't. (To enlarge the photo of Owen and Mzee, click on the photo)

Given the name Owen, he's now being cared for at a Mombasa, Kenya wildlife sanctuary, where he has adopted a new "mom" -- Mzee, a male, 120-year-old giant tortoise.

Here's one news account:

A 120-year-old giant tortoise living in a Kenyan sanctuary has become friends with a baby hippo that was rescued by game wardens. Owen, the year-old hippo rescued last month, suffered from dehydration after being separated from his herd in a river than drains into the Indian Ocean. (To enlarge the photo of Owen and Mzee, click on the photo)

When Owen made it to the sanctuary, he headed toward the tortoise which has a dark gray color similar to grown hippos. Wardens said Owen would not have survived alone in the wild.

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