One morning, as the animal detectives finished their daily exercises, anteater Alfred suddenly lifted his long nose and began to move it energetically.
„What’s going on, Alfred?” asked mouse Patricia, adjusting her large glasses.
„I smell a strange scent over the river!” Alfred exclaimed. „It’s not ants or any food I know. We have to investigate!”
Lion Kuba, adjusting his detective hat, ordered: „Team, it’s time for action! Zofia, observe from above!”
Giraffe Zofia, chewing on the last palm leaf, stretched her long neck and looked around. „I see something strange on the riverbank, about 500 meters from here!”
The detectives set off, with Alfred leading, stopping every now and then to sniff the air. Patricia hopped alongside, holding a magnifying glass, while Kuba proudly walked behind.
When they arrived at the spot, they saw… a large yellow balloon!
„What is this?” Alfred wondered, cautiously approaching his nose.
„It’s probably some scientific experiment!” exclaimed excited Patricia.
Suddenly, the balloon began to move and rise. Just under the balloon, a hippopotamus’s head emerged from the water!
„Hello, friends!” called the hippopotamus. „I’m Professor Hipcio, and I’m testing my new invention – a hot air balloon with the scent of bananas!”
The animals watched in amazement as the balloon slowly rose above the jungle.
„Well, well,” muttered Kuba. „I guess we need to update our records with 'flying hippos’.”
Everyone burst into laughter, and Alfred added: „Maybe next time Professor Hipcio could try the scent of ants? It would be easier for me to find!”
And so, the detectives solved the mystery of the strange smell, gaining a new, somewhat eccentric friend in the process.