Outside the Rock: World Hippo Day & Hutto
Happy World Hippo Day! If you love Hippos – today is YOUR day!
According to nationaltoday.com, World Hippo Day on February 15 celebrates the extraordinary hippopotamus and encourages people to take action to prevent its extinction. Did you know that before 1909, scientists placed hippos in the same group as pigs? Despite their outward similarities with pigs or wild boars, hippopotamuses are closely related to whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Hippos are semiaquatic mammals that are native to sub-Saharan Africa. They are herbivores and can weigh up to 2,000kg, making them the third-largest land mammal after elephants and rhinos. Hippos are primarily found in rivers, lakes, and mangrove swamps.
And Hutto is THE place to celebrate!
Our neighbors in the City of Hutto honor their beloved mascot through an annual celebration at City Hall. Join in the fun on February 15th from 4 pm to 6 pm with showings of the Hippo Loose in Hutto documentary at 4:15 and 5:15 pm. #HippoDay
Pick up a Valentine’s treat before celebrating. Click here to see where you can go.
Hippo Loose in Hutto – The Legend
On World Hippo Day 2023, the City premiered a short film titled “Hippo Loose in Hutto: The Legend of Hutto, Texas.” A “must-see movie” for anyone living, working or going to school in Hutto, the short film explores varying points of view about local hippo legends and the impact that this folklore has on the City’s modern-day culture.
The legend is told through interviews with leaders from the City of Hutto, Hutto ISD and the Hutto Chamber of Commerce, plus a variety of local residents with unique perspectives on Hippo Nation. The film also features an original song composed by Hutto ISD music teacher, Lexie DeAnda-Trejo and performed by elementary students from Veterans’ Hill Elementary.
Check out all the nuggets in Hutto’s “Hippo Loose in Hutto: The Legend of Hutto, Texas” video.
