![]() ![]() Due to their specific gravity they can even walk and run underwater along the river floor and can even sleep underwater! They have been known to reach overland speeds of up to 32 kilometres per hour and can easily outrun any human. ![]() They are massive creatures but don’t let this fool you into thinking they are slow. Females are tasked with protecting the youngsters and will attack anything that comes close to them – threatening or not.Ī female hippo will protect her young at every costĪt birth, hippos weigh about 45 kilograms and grow to reach weights of around 2 to 3 tonnes. It comes as no surprise, then, that most human fatalities occur on a riverbank that belonged to a hippo. ![]() Male hippos are tasked with guarding the riverbank and defending their homes from any animal or person who threatens it. Hippopotamuses spend most of their days lolling around in waterīoth male and female hippos are enormously territorial. They can even hold their breath for as long as 30 minutes at a time! This is where their name comes from – the Greeks named them ‘river horse.’ It is estimated that these semi-aquatic animals spend up to 16 hours a day in the water, where they mate, give birth and feed their young. Hippopotamuses make their home on the banks of rivers or lakes and spend most of their days lolling about in or around the water. The hippopotamus appears cute and cuddly, but be aware, its one of Africa’s most unpredictable and dangerous And so this month we thought we’d shed some light on hippos, explain why they are so dangerous and point out a few other fascinating facts. Many people perceive them as being docile, fat, lazy and slow when in fact they account for more human fatalities in Africa than any other animal. But did you know that they are, in fact, well-known as the Most Dangerous Animal in Africa? This is in part due to their deceptively ‘cute’ appearance, and the fact that these enormous grunting fellows are extremely aggressive and unpredictable. Hippo with jaws open: Johannes Gerhardus Swanepoel, Dreamstime.The hippopotamus is one of Africa’s most loved and popular animals, along with the giraffe, elephant, zebra and lion. Photos: Hippo family: Sergey Uryadnikov, Dreamstime. In captivity, they tend to live longer and may reach up to 50 years old. Soon after birth, the mother and her baby join up with other cows and calves for protection against predators, such as crocodiles, lions and hyenas.ġ0) In the wild hippos live for around 40 years. ![]() To warn off rival males, they open their huge mouths and display their long, curved canines! They also make loud grunts and aggressive splashes in the water.ĩ) Female hippos, called cows, give birth every two years, usually to a single calf. The other members are females, their young and a few young non-breeding males.Ĩ) Dominant males are very protective over their group. When completely submerged, their ears and nostrils fold shut to keep water out.ħ) Hippos usually live in groups (or “herds”) of around ten to 20 individuals, led by one large dominant male. They are herbivores, and eat mostly grass – and boy do they eat grass! In just one night, they can guzzle down up to 35kg of their favourite grub!Ħ) Despite their enormous size, hippos are great swimmers and can hold their breath for up to five minutes underwater. Today, they are largely confined to protected areas in East African countries.ĥ) Hippos are most active at night, when they forage for food. Sadly, populations have declined due to habitat loss and hunting. Their eyes, nose and ears are located on the top of their head, which means they can see and breathe whilst submerged in the water. What’s more, these super-cool creatures sweat an oily red liquid which helps protect their skin from drying out – and acts as a sunblock, too! Cool, huh?Ĥ) These magnificent mammals were once found throughout all sub-saharan Africa. That’s as much as three small cars!ģ) To stay cool in the blistering African heat, hippos spend most of their day in rivers and lakes. Males measure around 3.5m long and 1.5m tall, and can weigh up 3,200kg. Get ready to meet one of nature’s most powerful animals with our ten facts about the hippopotamus… Hippo Factsġ) Hippos are large semi-aquatic mammals, with a large barrel-shaped body, short legs, a short tail and an enormous head! They have greyish to muddy-brown skin, which fades to a pale pink colour underneath.Ģ) They are considered the second largest land animal on Earth (first place goes to the elephant!). ![]()
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