All aboard! Dozens of turtles catch a free ride on the back of a hippo in South Africa

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Flaviemys purvisi

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By CHIARA FIORILLO FOR MAILONLINE
12 December 2018


A group of cheeky turtles have caught a free ride on the back of a hippo in South Africa.

Simon Smith, 35, caught the reptiles - also known as terrapins - riding on the back of the hippopotamus while visiting the Kruger National Park in South Africa.

The property consultant from Durban thinks the turtles were looking for a spot to sunbathe and so they chose the hippo's back.
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The group of cheeky turtles seems to be enjoying their free ride on the back of a hippo


The hippo seems untroubled by his little passengers who are enjoying their free ride.

Simon, who took the images in August, said: 'I think what made this particular sighting unique is the sheer number of terrapin on the back of the hippo, as well as how close I was to the sighting.

'The terrapins, being ectothermic, were looking to warm their bodies in the sun.

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The photographer believes the terrapins were looking for a place to sunbathe when they spotted the hippo and decided to go on a free ride on his back


'They will normally scramble onto any rock or log, but with this particular dam having neither - the hippo was the next logical option.

'There's no real symbiosis in this situation so it appears the hippo simply tolerates its little passengers.'
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Photographer Simon Smith took the images while visiting Kruger National Park in South Africa
 
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