A recent discovery in Vlychada Cave, a flooded cave system in southern Greece, provides new insights into the final presence of hippopotamuses in Europe. Researchers analyzing fossils found within the cave system identified them as *Hippopotamus amphibius*, the common hippopotamus species. The findings suggest the Mani Peninsula served as one of the last refuges for these animals on the continent before their eventual disappearance. The cave’s unique environment likely offered a suitable habitat for the hippos during a period of changing climate and dwindling populations elsewhere. This discovery contributes to a better understanding of the species’ past distribution and the factors that led to its extinction in Europe. Further research at the site is expected to reveal more details about the ancient ecosystem and the hippos’ lives.