At 14, Sheri Lynch was given a small grey hippopotamus plush by her best friend. She had no idea that the birthday present would still be part of her life more than four decades later, or that it would eventually sit alongside more than a thousand other hippo-themed objects. The US collector has spent years finding hippopotamuses in places ranging from thrift shops and flea markets to fairs, antique stores and unexpected corners of her travels. Some were gifts, others were carefully chosen finds, while a few were specially made for her. By 30 July 2025, the collection had reached 1,086 items, earning Lynch the Guinness World Records title for the largest collection of hippopotamus-related items. What began with one childhood toy has since become a carefully catalogued collection filling her home in Gold Hill, Oregon, where Lynch continues to look for the next unusual hippo to add to it.
How Sheri Lynch’s hippo collection grew through gifts, travels and unexpected finds
Lynch’s fascination with hippos began in Watsonville, California, where she grew up. The small plush animal given to her on her 14th birthday remained with her as she moved through different stages of life. What started as a single toy gradually became something much bigger as she began noticing hippopotamus-themed objects wherever she went. According to Guinness World Records, Lynch describes the process rather simply: she does not feel that she has to search particularly hard for hippos because, in her words, “they find me”. Friends, relatives, colleagues and even strangers have contributed to the collection over the years. Some pieces came as gifts, while others were discoveries she made during trips or ordinary shopping trips.The collection has grown across more than four decades, and its contents are far from limited to conventional toys. Lynch has accumulated objects made from wood, porcelain, plastic and metal, as well as artwork and accessories featuring the animal. She has also commissioned artists to create pieces specifically for her, including purses, boxes and felted hippos.
Where Sheri Lynch finds the unusual items in her hippo collection
Lynch’s collecting habits have generally involved seeing objects in person rather than ordering them online. She has searched flea markets, thrift shops, antique malls, estate sales, garage sales, fairs and festivals, as well as toy and baby shops and souvenir stores. A promising hippo can turn up almost anywhere, which has kept the hunt going for years. Some of her finds have come from less expected places. She has spotted hippo items at locations including the Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia, and while visiting a Renaissance Faire. The variety appears to be part of what has kept the hobby interesting. There is no single type of object that defines the collection, and Lynch has continued to add pieces with very different designs and purposes.She has also involved her family in the search. When her sons were young, trips to look for hippos became something of a family activity. Her youngest son, Bryan, would reportedly remind people entering a shop to “Look for hippos!” The collecting had become familiar enough within the family to be treated almost like a shared pastime.Among the pieces Lynch particularly values are an ironwood hippopotamus given to her by her father, a purple hippo ballerina her mother gave her for her 16th birthday, and unusual porcelain figures depicting mer-hippos. Despite having more than a thousand objects, she has resisted choosing just one favourite.
Sheri Lynch sets Guinness World Records record with 1,086 hippopotamus-related items
For years, Lynch’s hippos were largely kept out of public view. The collection eventually became something she wanted to document properly, leading to the Guinness World Records count. On 30 July 2025, 1,086 items were recorded as part of her collection. That figure placed Lynch well ahead of the previous record holder. The earlier record belonged to Rebecca Fusco of the United States, who had established the mark in 2016. Lynch’s total was close to twice that previous figure, making the scale of her collection clear.There was a practical side to managing so many objects. Lynch recommends keeping a database to record what has been collected, a system that helps keep track of individual pieces as the number continues to grow. It is an approach that makes sense for a collection that has accumulated gradually rather than being assembled all at once.The Guinness World Records recognition also brought the collection into public view after decades of being a private part of Lynch’s life. She told the organisation that she had kept it away from public attention for 46 years before deciding that it was time to share it. The collection now forms a distinctive part of her home in Gold Hill, where she lives with her husband in retirement.
Sheri Lynch plans to keep collecting hippos for the rest of her life after setting a world record
The record is only one part of Lynch’s story. She spent more than 33 years working in the public school system, mainly in special education, and also worked as a coordinator for a local Little League team. Outside work, she volunteered with an animal rescue organisation, fostering kittens and rabbits. For a period, the hippos were put into storage while other parts of her life took priority. In 2012, she brought them back out again. This time, they were not going back into boxes.Her affection for the animals is rooted partly in their appearance and partly in what she finds interesting about their behaviour. Lynch has pointed out that the friendly-looking animal is capable of being extremely dangerous in the wild. That contrast is part of what appeals to her. The collection has continued to grow alongside her retirement. Lynch says that she intends to keep collecting for the rest of her life.
