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Zookeepers fail to get stubborn baby hippo out of the water. Then mama brings 'the stare.'

“The ‘mom stare’ is universal in every species."

@tanganyikawildlifepark/TikTok

The mom stare is universal.

Want definitive proof that all living creatures share some inexplicable connection? Look no further than nature itself.

In this case, by “nature” we mean viral footage of a baby hippo who refused to leave his pool playtime…until it was met with the “mom stare” we all know and fear.

In an adorable clip shared by Kansas’ Tanganyika Wildlife Park, we see zookeepers try—and fail—to retrieve a five-week-old pygmy hippopotamus calf named Mars from a pool. They simply couldn’t compete with Mars’ heft and slipperiness…not to mention his stubbornness.

Then Mars’ mom Posie entered the chat. The camera panned over to her giving “the stare,” and within seconds the little fella was on dry land, no questions asked.

@tanganyikawildlifepark

Better listen to mom! #babyhippo #hippobaby #marsthehippo

Speaking with Today, Tanganyika’s Curator of Research and Welfare, Dr. Samantha Russak shared that the 40 pound calf had the advantage of being covered with a mucus-like substance called “blood sweat,” which helps prevent dryness and sunburns, and, in this instance, being taken in by well-intentioned zookeepers. But no amount of blood sweat would be a match for the infamous mom stare.

“It seems to be universal. Moms everywhere just have that power over babies,” she told Today.

@tanganyikawildlifepark

Baby Link ✨ #pygmyhippo #babyhippo #hippo #babyanimals


Indeed, people in the comments were in full agreement that Posie’s stare communicated something we could all understand without actually making a sound.

“The ‘mom stare’ is universal in every species,” one person wrote, while another echoed, “So, toddlers of all species are the same.”

And of course, people joked about exactly what Posie was saying with that stare:

“I know you heard that lady tell you to come out of the water.”

“Mars potato jones get out of the water now.”

“Mom: ‘I’m gonna turn around and start walking, if I look back and you aren’t out of that pool and right behind me, we’re gonna have a problem, k?’”

“GIT over here I told you not to be acting a fool with these people. They feed us.”

“Mom said don’t make me count to 3.”

“She was like ‘Don’t let me tell you twice…”

Some folks even took a stab at what little Mars might have been thinking.

“You’re not my mom! Oop, there she is. Coming ma!” one viewer quipped.

@tanganyikawildlifepark

Not the mud falling off his face at the end 🤣 #babyhipoj #hippobaby #mars #ijustababy

Humans are known for attributing our species-specific traits, feelings, and behaviors to animals in a process called anthropomorphism. Just how accurate we are in being able to interpret creature communications remains largely up to debate, but in moments like these, when it intuitively feels so clear what’s being expressed, it’s hard not to believe in our ability to connect with our fellow living creatures in a profound way. Not only that, but acknowledge the profound connection between a mother and child. Whether you’re furred, feathered, or human, we all know the power of that stare. That’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it?

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21 of the funniest photos from the Comedy Wildlife Awards

via Comedy Wildlife Awards

A sense of humor is a characteristic that many of us assume is only found among humans. However, according to Live Science, our primate relatives — chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans — all produce laughter-like sounds when tickled.

Koko, the gorilla that knew sign language, would tie her trainer's shoes together, sign, "chase," and then laugh.

So, who knows? Ants and spiders may share their own jokes that we have no idea about. And it'd be hard for a giraffe or puffer fish not to laugh from time to time given their looks.

Don't get me started on hyenas.

The photographers and wildlife conservationists from the Comedy and Wildlife Awards do a great job that humans aren't the only animals that enjoy having a laugh.

Every year, they hand out an award to the funniest wildlife photo and they've just released their top 44 finalists for the 2020 awards. So, we're sharing our top 21 favorites.

The winners will be announced on October 22 with the top photographer winning an incredible one-week safari with Alex Walker's Serian in the Masai Mara, Kenya as well as a unique handmade trophy from the Art Garage in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

What's your favorite photo? You can vote on the People's Choice winner on their website.

Here are 21 of our favorite finalists.

Wait up mommy, look what I got for you© Kunal Gupta / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


Just chillin'© Jill Neff / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


Untitled© Mark Fitzpatrick / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


It's the last day of school holidays© Max Teo / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


Hide and seek© Tim Hearn / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


Socially uninhibited© Martin Grace / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


Boredom© Marcus Westberg / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


Macaque striking a pose© Louis Marti / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


The inside joke© Femke van Willigen / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


Hi y'all© Erik Fisher / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


Crashing into the picture© Brigette Alclay Marcon / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


Smiley© Arthur Telle Thiermann / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


Social distance, please© Petr Sochmanmn / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


The race© Yevhen Samuchenko / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


So hot© Wei Ping Pen / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


Monkey business© Megan Lawrenz / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


I think this tires gonna be flat© Kay Kotzian / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


Peekaboo© Jagdeep Rajput / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


Almost time to get up© Charlie Davidson / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


I could puke© Christina Holfelder / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.


Spreading the wildlife gosspi© Bernhard Esterer / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020.

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This sneaky guide dog is too pure for this world. A hilarious video proves it.

Imagine you're a guide dog: You're a dog with a job.  You love your human, and you want to keep them safe and healthy. So you're working all day.

You'd need a break, a few moments that are just about you, right?  

Right.

And one dog's going hilariously viral for the sneaky way he's guiding his human into his plan for treating himself. Internet, meet Danielle Sykora (human) and Thai, the goodest and craftiest Labrador/golden retriever that's done ever retrieved. (Of course, they're all good dogs, Brent.)

After that caption, you may be asking yourself, "'Mad loyal to her otherwise?' What does that even mean?" And it's a good question — without context, the dog in that photo looks like he would never betray his human and that he could do anything he sets his mind to. He wants to fly a plane? I'd get a first-class ticket for the ride. He wants to be president? I'd vote for him. Thai wants to run the world? Beyoncé might consider allowing it. How could anyone say no to that face?

Thai's sneaky, "disloyal" behavior is so wholesome, so pure, it's about to make your whole day.

Here's the story: BuzzFeed reports that when Danielle, a college student, comes home for the weekend, she likes to go to the mall with her dad, her sister Michele, and Thai. The last time they all went shopping, Michele's dad told her to tread carefully because he was fairly certain Thai was about to walk Danielle past every other store and right into his favorite shop: a wonderland of dog toys, treats, and fine home decor aptly called Cool Dog Gear.

How did Danielle's dad know? Thai had happily done it before.

Because we live in a world where "video or it didn't happen" is the battle cry of the internet, Michele got it recorded.

Two things.

First: Have you ever considered comic sans is probably the font that dogs think in? That sign wasn't meant for humans; it was meant for dogs. Who else would be taken in by the store name Cool Dog Gear but a retriever? (What I'm saying here is that I think dogs can read.)

Second: How cool is that? Dogs — they're just like us! When they want to shop, they want to shop! Sometimes, we all just need a bit of retail therapy.

Thai was handsomely rewarded for his subterfuge. According to Michele, with whom I connected on Twitter, whenever the pupper heads to Cool Dog Gear's treat bar, he's rewarded with a hard-earned snack. (He's done it about six times at the time of this story.)

Of course, Thai is an incredible guide dog.

Danielle told BuzzFeed that Thai is smart and full of energy. Of course, he's also a little "mischievous." According to her, Thai jumped on top of a cake only a week after he came to live with her. Yet he always keeps Danielle safe, her sister tells me.

"He has never ever put her in any type of harm," Michele says. "He is so smart. He just really likes taking her to places that have good food smells."

Isn't that all we're looking for in a friend — someone to share good food smells with? Danielle said she'd much rather have an impish guide dog, one who will take her to Starbucks because he knows she likes it (and he gets a puppuccino, of course), than one who's always perfectly behaved.

One thing's for certain, the internet loOOOoves Thai (that was my impression of a doggie howl).

After Michele's tweet went viral, people from all over chimed in with praise and their own adorable stories of service animals going just a tiny bit rogue.

If there's one lesson Thai teaches us, it's to always act like you belong.

Hard agree, @SarahMunozzz.

Congratulations, Thai! You've gotten a treat, made the world a better place, and even started important conversations in the Twitter comments about how people living with disabilities use social media. That deserves another trip to the mall.

You know what? Thai may even be giving this golden — who's been my favorite for years — a run for his money.

I shared this video with Michele over DM, by the way. Her response? "That is exactly what Thai would have done."

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