Splish, splash — here comes the hippo! These printable hippo templates are perfect for a zoo or safari animal theme. Colour them, cut them out, or download the PDF to print at full size, then turn them into crafts, masks and puppets. Real hippos can be a little grumpy, but this friendly fellow is happy to play all day. Pick a hippo below and print or download it.
Hippo fun facts
Hippos are full of surprises! Did you know a hippo is also called a "river horse"? Even though they spend most of the day in the water, hippos can't actually swim — they walk and bounce along the riverbed instead. They're one of the biggest land animals of all, they can hold their breath for about five minutes, and they can even get sunburnt. And here's a funny one: a group of hippos is called a "bloat"!
Zoo and safari crafts
Use a paper plate to make a chunky 3D hippo: paint it grey and add ears, little legs and two nostrils from the template. Cut eye holes instead, tape on a stick, and you've got a hippo mask. Or glue your hippo to a clothespin or paper roll for a puppet. Build a whole safari with a lion, an elephant and a giraffe — and find lots more in the animals collection.
H is for Hippo
The hippo is a brilliant helper for the letter "H". Colour one in while practising the "H" sound, trace the outline for fine-motor practice, or use it as the star of a safari counting game.
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