A family of hippos has made a splash at Longleat.
The new pod, consisting of Lola, Matylda, Manon, and Hodor, can now be seen in Half Mile Pond on the Wiltshire estate.
They arrived last summer and have since settled into their new home, the 'hippodrome,' which features grazing paddocks and pools.
The hippos now roam freely in the pond, only returning for veterinary checks, shelter, or treats from their keepers.
Visitors can get a close-up view of the hippos during the Jungle Cruise boat safari, which also showcases gorillas, Colobus monkeys, and sea lions.
Darren Beasley, head of animal operations at Longleat, shared his excitement about the new arrivals.
He said: "We are so pleased at the way the four have settled in; we always said we wanted to ensure they had the time to get to know each other, their keepers, and the sounds of the other animals which live in the area.
"It is exciting to have hippos return to Half Mile Pond during our 60th anniversary year of the Safari Park.
"We all hugely missed having hippos, following the deaths of Sonia and Spot, who lived here for decades."
The return of the hippos coincides with Longleat's 60th anniversary as the first drive-through safari park outside of Africa, which opened in 1966.
Special events and celebrations are taking place throughout the year to mark the occasion.
Longleat hopes the new hippos will contribute to the breeding programme for this vulnerable species.
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