The book about "Papa Hippo" by Tofik Akhundov was presented in Nizhny Novgorod.

      On April 18, 2026, at 07:00, Culture and Leisure, NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" - Maria Orlova. A presentation of the book about the People's Artist of Russia and Azerbaijan, Tofik Akhundov, titled "Papa Hippos. A Story of Training and Life" (6+) took place in Nizhny Novgorod. A man whose life in the circus became an era and an example of how a calling can change one's destiny. The event was attended by a correspondent from NIA "Nizhny Novgorod".

      Tofik Akhundov is the only trainer in the world who has worked with a group of hippos for over 30 years, one of the most complex and unpredictable animals. He has been performing for over 60 years and, at 84 years old, still works with animals and is the leading artist of Gia Eradze's circus.

      Elina Aydunova, director of the production center "Royal Circus of Gia Eradze," shared that the idea for the book was born during a tour in Simferopol. In the evenings, Tofik Akhundov would visit his colleagues and share stories—about tours, about animals, about the ring. These stories impressed the team so much that it was decided to preserve them in a book—without embellishments or artistic exaggerations, just accurate facts. The book presentation was timed to coincide with the International Circus Day, celebrated on the third Saturday of April.

      The artist himself admits that he did not intend to write memoirs.

      Much in his life happened for the first time—not only for him but also for the world circus. He became the first person in the world to work with a group of hippos. Before him, these animals were performed with one or two at a time, but there was no full group work, interaction among hippos, or tricks—this had never existed. "For them to interact with each other—this had never happened before me," he emphasized.

      Later, four hippos worked simultaneously in the ring. The artist created tricks considering their complex anatomy. "They have a huge head, short legs. Their capabilities are limited. But where have you seen a hippo kicking a ball? Nowhere," he recounted.

      His career also had other "firsts." He brought a hippo to the American stage in a circus with a 250-year history. For the first time, a hippo was brought to television—first in Russia, then in the USA, where the artist gave an interview on ABC against the backdrop of New York's scenery.

      One of his protégés—a hippo named Zlata—appeared in the film "Beauty" (6+), which was released in February. This was a real artist, not computer graphics. According to Tofik Akhundov, in the history of cinema, there have been almost no examples of a live hippo not just lying down or standing but actually acting.

      The path to training for Akhundov was also a step into the unknown. He started in the circus as an acrobat, was an award winner, and toured the world. "All the work was done on one hand. My shoulders still hurt," he admitted.

      The decision to change genres came during a tour in Australia. At the same time, he had no dynastic support or experience working with animals. "I chose the most difficult—hippos. I didn’t go for an internship with anyone. I just watched in zoos how they were fed. I started from scratch," Akhundov shared. For the first six months, according to him, "nothing worked," but then results began to appear.

      A special place in the life and work of the trainer is occupied by his wife, Lyudmila. She has worked alongside him from the very beginning, feeding the animals, caring for them, and working with monkeys. "Mama-hippo," joked Akhundov. According to him, without her, this path would have been impossible.

      Photos from the archive of the show produced by Gia Eradze's production center "Sand Fairy Tale" (0+). Tofik Akhundov speaks with great warmth and expertise about the character and habits of his pets, noting that all hippos are absolutely different in character, very intelligent, jealous, and capable of feeling attachment to humans, sensing their mood. According to him, discipline and love play a key role in working with them, as only with respect and trust do animals open up and begin to perform complex tricks.

      The story of his group of hippos is also interesting: at first, he was sure he had three females, but a year later it turned out that one of them was a male, which also became a unique case for the circus. Moreover, an unusual hierarchy formed in their group: the leader became the female, Yana. "The circus is my whole life," he concluded.

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