In 1941, during the Siege of Leningrad, Yevdokia Dashina saved a hippo named Belle. As water to the zoo was cut off, Belle’s skin began to crack. Every day, Dashina hauled 40-liter barrels from the Neva River and rubbed Belle with camphor oil, allowing Belle to survive and hide during air raids.

In 1941, during the Siege of Leningrad, Yevdokia Dashina saved a hippo named Belle. As water to the zoo was cut off, Belle’s skin began to crack. Every day, Dashina hauled 40-liter barrels from the Neva River and rubbed Belle with camphor oil, allowing Belle to survive and hide during air raids.

Posted Mar 2, 2026, 4:03 PM UTC

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