The river Thames running through the heart of London had an air of the Limpopo about it when those walking along the embankment spotted a Hippopotamus making its way up stream.
The WWF need not be alarmed however because this hippo is the first UK commission of renowned Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman.
HippopoThames was commissioned by Thames Festival Trust with support from the Mayor of London.
Hofman is known for scaled-up sculptures, such as Rubber Duck which has been travelling to several major cities including Auckland, Sao Paulo and Hong Kong, since 2007.
Hofman’s sculptures often originate from everyday objects, but the design of Hofman’s first UK commission has been inspired by the fascinating prehistory of the River Thames, and the hippos that used to inhabit it.