why has he got a duck?

Firstly, is this a hippo? I've kind of been referring to it as an elephant but theres a vital piece of anatomy missing if it is. So I reckon its a hippo. Next...why does the hippo have a wee tiny duck or chick in its pocket/under its arm? What's the connection?

Mind how Donald Duck never wore any clothes, but always wore a towel when he'd been in the bath? This reminded me a bit of that. Since its wearing pjs when hippos don't really have standard day clothes.

I've said this before, but I really still quite believe toys come alive when you aren't in the room. Right now in that bed shop a group of hippos and ducks are running wild.