Following in the footsteps of Sydney, Australia’s, giant floating turtle and last year a giant floating rubber duck, a 21m (69ft) long hippo sculpture has made its way down the River Thames in London to rest at Nine Elms on the South Bank.

Designed by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman – well known for his scaled-up sculptures – HippopoThames will be moored until 28 September as part of Totally Thames – an annual event which celebrates arts, music and community events that take place along the 42-mile stretch of the Thames in London.

"I am thrilled and excited to be using the Thames as the location of my first UK commission. The purpose of setting my sculptures in the public domain has always been to give members of the public a break from their daily routines, to inspire conversation and to cause astonishment,” said Hofman.

Operating as a pop-up attraction for three hours a day during low tide, HippopoThames will have step-on access. Being made of wood, it will likely fare better than Hofman’s inflatable rubber duck, which, while moored in Belgium last year, was stabbed 42 times by vandals.