Uncategorized
Open wide! Meet the deadly hippo who loves to get his teeth cleaned – The Mirror
Sep
Say ah! Hippos need good dental hygiene too(Image: Getty)
They're rumoured to kill more humans than lions every year.
But that didn't stop a brave zoo keeper at Qingdao Wildlife World in east China's Shandong province practising a bit of dental hygiene on one of his hippo residents.
The giant animal happily opens wide for his keeper's huge toothbrush – or yard brush – to keep his pearly whites in tip top condition.
Brave move: A yard brush has to be used to keep their teeth sparkling(Image: Getty)
Nobody confirmed if he got a sticker for being a good patient, but it's worth noting the keeper only used one hand to venture into the beast's gaping mouth.
Hippopotamus teeth are made of ivory, similar to the tusks of elephants. But hippo ivory is even more highly prized because it does not turn yellow with age.
After a good brushing, the hippo's teeth must have been gleaming – perfect for a date with his needy companion seen swimming close by.
Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.
