December 19th 2024.
Karen Paolillo, the founder of Turgwe Hippo Trust, stands confidently in front of a wild female hippo. As she poses for a photo, the hippo stands just behind her, a testament to the bond that Karen has formed with these gentle giants. In an interview, Karen opens up about her love for animals and her mission to protect them, even if it means putting them above humans.
"It sounds terribly dramatic," Karen admits, "but if I had to choose between saving a human's life and saving an animal's life, I'd choose the animal." For Karen, this statement holds true as she has dedicated decades of her life to caring for the hippos at the Turgwe Hippo Trust in Zimbabwe. Each hippo has a name and a special place in Karen's heart, from Wonky and Cheeky to Humpty and Steve.
Karen's journey with these magnificent creatures has not been an easy one. She has faced challenges such as droughts, poachers, and even a misunderstanding that led to her husband's arrest. But through it all, Karen has remained steadfast in her love and dedication to the hippos. Locals refer to her as "Madam Mvuu," which means "Mrs. Hippo" in the local language, while internationally she is known as "The Hippo Lady."
Growing up in Buckinghamshire, Karen's love for animals was evident. Her room was adorned with pony-themed wallpaper and books like Tarzan of the Apes and Born Free lined her bookshelf. Her mother worked at a nearby petting zoo, where Karen developed a deep bond with a Welsh mountain pony named Kuchek. But it was a visit from a circus that changed everything for Karen. She was mesmerized by the Shetland ponies and Arab stallions and offered to groom the animals for free. This led to a summer adventure with the circus, where Karen's love for animals clashed with the harsh reality of their living conditions.
After a brief stint as a journalist and a croupier at a casino, Karen's dream of working with animals overseas became a reality when she landed a job in Zimbabwe. It was here that she met her future husband and began her journey as a safari guide. She even had the opportunity to stay with George Adamson, known as "The Father of Lions," but ultimately chose to stay and learn more about the wildlife in Zimbabwe.
In 1992, a severe drought hit Southern Africa, leaving the local hippo population in grave danger. Karen and her husband lived in a caravan near the Turgwe River, where they witnessed the devastating effects of the drought. Karen's determination to save the hippos led her to buy food and build a swimming pool for them to bathe and avoid dehydration. When the rain finally came, Karen founded the Turgwe Hippo Trust and has been caring for the hippos ever since.
Despite the challenges, Karen has remained dedicated to her work at the Turgwe Hippo Trust. She has learned more about hippos in ten months during the drought than in years as a safari guide. And she has no plans of stopping anytime soon. For Karen, her love for animals knows no bounds, and she will continue to put them above people if it means protecting them.
Karen Paolillo, the founder of Turgwe Hippo Trust, stands confidently in the midst of nature with a wild female hippo just behind her. Her passion for animals is evident as she openly admits that she prioritizes them above humans. Some may find this statement dramatic, but for Karen, it's a simple truth. She firmly believes that if faced with the choice of saving a human or an animal, she would choose the animal without hesitation.
Karen's love for animals, especially hippos, led her to establish the Turgwe Hippo Trust in the south east of Zimbabwe. For over 30 years, she has dedicated her life to caring for these gentle giants, giving each one a unique name like Wonky, Cheeky, Humpty, and Steve. She has faced numerous challenges during her journey, from harsh droughts to standing up against poachers. She even endured a difficult time when her husband was wrongfully arrested due to a misunderstanding involving a hippo. Locals refer to her as "Madam Mvuu," which means "Mrs. Hippo" in the Zimbabwean language of Shona. Internationally, she is known as "The Hippo Lady."
Sitting in her house in Zimbabwe, Karen shares her story with Metro, a storm brewing in the background. As she speaks, her love for animals and the African wilderness is evident in her words.
Karen's love for animals can be traced back to her childhood in Buckinghamshire. She was obsessed with them, with pony-themed wallpaper adorning her room. Her bookshelf was filled with books like Tarzan of the Apes and Born Free. Her mum worked at a petting zoo where she got to interact with animals like guinea pigs, rabbits, and a llama. By the age of seven, Karen could tell tourists all about the local wildlife at the nearby Woburn Abbey. Her first real bond with an animal was with a Welsh mountain pony named Kuchek, which her mum saved up for a year to buy for her.
When a circus came to town, Karen's love for animals only grew stronger. She was fascinated by the Shetland ponies and beautiful Arab stallions, and she offered to groom them for free. Eventually, she asked the circus owner, Peter Hoffman, if she could join them. To her surprise, she received a telegram inviting her to join Circus Hoffman in London. At the age of 15, Karen had her own caravan and was responsible for walking a big Highland cow around the circus ring every night. However, she often found herself speaking out against the poor conditions the animals were living in, but she was told to "wind her neck in." Despite this, her love for animals only grew stronger.
After leaving school, Karen spent six months as a journalist at a news agency before moving in with her cousin in Bournemouth. She got a job at a casino, but her heart yearned to work with animals overseas. By chance, she met a croupier at the casino who had once lived in Zimbabwe. She reached out to his old company, and just 10 days later, she was on a plane to start her new life in Africa.
Karen's journey to her dream job was not easy. She placed an advert in a newspaper, asking for any jobs with animals suitable for a young woman. However, she only received marriage proposals from farmers. Eventually, a safari company in Zimbabwe gave her a chance. She became the first woman to sit for the National Parks Professional Guides' license exam and passed. This meant that she could finally swap the stuffy casinos for the open bush of Africa, where she took tourists out to get photos of wild animals.
In the late 1980s, Karen received a letter from George Adamson, also known as the "Lion Man of Africa." He offered her a place at his sanctuary in Kenya, but Karen chose to stay and continue learning as a safari guide. It was also during this time that she met her future husband, French geologist Jean-Roger, who had a job in Zimbabwe. Looking back, Karen considers herself lucky to have stayed in Zimbabwe as George Adamson was tragically murdered by bandits, and a girl who worked for him was raped.
In 1992, a massive drought hit Southern Africa, and Karen and her husband were living in a caravan near the Turgwe River. The drought caused the water to vanish and the grass to disappear, putting the local hippo population in grave danger. Karen couldn't just sit back and watch as the animals suffered. She used her husband's savings to buy food for the hippos and even built a swimming pool for them to bathe in to avoid dehydration. When the rain finally came, Karen was determined to continue her work, and in 1994, she founded the Turgwe Hippo Trust. Her passion for hippos had grown even more, and she wanted to do everything in her power to protect them.
Despite the challenges she faced, Karen never gave up on her dream of working with and protecting animals. She continues to put their well-being above her own and has become known as the "Hippo Lady" around the world. Her love for animals is truly inspiring, and her dedication to the Turgwe Hippos is a testament to her determination and passion.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
