The hippopotamus

The hippopotamus at the Zoological Gardens, Regent’s Park, London, 1852 by Don Juan Carlos, Count of Montizón

Obaysch was the first hippopotamus in England since prehistoric times, and the first in Europe since Ancient Rome. The Ottoman Viceroy of Egypt, Abbas Pasha, agreed with the British Consul General, Sir Charles Augustus Murray (later known as “Hippopotamus Murray”) to swap Obaysch for some greyhounds and deerhounds. Obaysch was sent by boat down the Nile to Cairo with a herd of cows to provide him with milk, then by P&O steamer to Southampton, arriving at London Zoo on 25 May 1850. He was an instant sensation, attracting up to 10,000 visitors each day, and spawning a trade in hippo memorabilia and even a Hippopotamus Polka.