The Truth About Pink Hippo Milk: Busting the Myth

If you've scrolled through social media, you've probably seen it: hippo milk is pink! It sounds wild enough to be true. But here's the reality check—hippo milk is white, just like cow's milk, human milk, and pretty much every other mammal's milk.

So where did this colorful myth come from? And what is that red stuff you see on hippos?

The Red Stuff Isn't Milk (Or Sweat)

Hippos do produce a reddish-orange secretion, but it has nothing to do with their milk. This substance comes from specialized skin glands and contains two unique compounds: hipposudoric acid (reddish-orange) and norhipposudoric acid (orange). It's often called "blood sweat," but it's not blood and it's not sweat either.

This secretion serves as a natural sunscreen and antimicrobial protection—pretty handy when you're a semi-aquatic giant spending hours in the African sun. But it comes out of their skin, not their mammary glands.

Expert Reality Check

Rebecca Lewison, biology professor at San Diego State University and co-chair of the IUCN Hippo Specialist Group, put it bluntly: "I have never heard their milk is pink, so that is a rumor."

Barbara Henry, curator of nutrition at Cincinnati Zoo, added an important caveat: "Hippo milk is not pink. If there is a pink color that means there may be an issue that involves blood." In other words, if you do see pink hippo milk, that's a medical problem, not normal.

How the Myth Went Viral

The pink milk rumor exploded in 2013 when National Geographic posted about hippos' "rose-colored milk" on Facebook and Twitter. The claim spread like wildfire across the internet, appearing in trivia lists, TikToks, and those "amazing animal facts" compilations.

The problem? There's zero scientific evidence for it. Biologist David Wynick notes that no research suggests hippos secrete hipposudoric acid into their milk. The whole thing is "an Internet legend" that mixed up two separate biological systems.

Why We Fell for It

The myth works because it's almost plausible. Hippos do produce something red. They are unusual animals with unique adaptations. And honestly? Pink milk sounds exactly weird enough to be a real animal fact.

But that's the trap of viral misinformation—it doesn't have to be true, just interesting enough to share. The actual science is clear:

• Hippo milk is white or cream colored
• The red secretion comes from skin glands, not mammary glands
• No credible research supports the pink milk claim
• Multiple hippo experts have debunked it

So next time someone shares this "fun fact," you can set the record straight. Hippos are fascinating enough without the fictional pink milk—they're massive herbivores with bacteria-fighting skin goo who can hold their breath for five minutes. That's plenty cool on its own.