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The historic range of the hippo is in pink whereas the current range is in green. The hippopotamus is native to sub-Saharan Africa and live in and around bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and mangroves.

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Why is the hippopotamus population declining?

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Why is the hippopotamus population declining?

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Hunting and agricultural expanse in Africa are the most prevalent drivers of population decline for hippos. Their teeth are sought after for ivory make them prime targets for poaching. Hippos are also valuable for subsistence from their fat and large game trophy hunting. Human-wildlife conflicts also result in gunshot mortality for these animals as hippos can be a dangerous threat to people.

Hippos today are mostly confined to protected areas due to development of settlements and agricultural farms. Habitat loss and deforestation are a major concern for the future of this species.

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Both species of the hippopotamus are now mostly confined to protected areas due to subsistence hunting and loss of hippo habitat. See what AWF is doing to prevent further decline of the hippo.

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Recent estimates put the hippopotamus population at around 115,000-130,000 (Lewison and Pluháček, 2017). They have been classified as vulnerable on the IUCN red list since 2006.

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Hippos are primarily herbivories, grazing on grasses, aquatic plants, and fruit during the night. Grass is the primary component of a hippos diet, with a single hippo capable of eating up to 110 lbs of grass in one night. Hippos can eat meat, and have been known to attack ungulates like zebra and wildebeest. Hippos have even been recorded cannibalizing other hippos.

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The hippopotamus is an amphibious mammal found in the heart of Africa's wetlands. These semi-aquatic creatures live in and around lakes, rivers, and grassland swamps. There are two species of hippopotamuses, the common river hippopotamus ( Hippopotamus amphibious) and the smaller pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis).

Hippos must keep their skin wet with mud or water for most of the day to stay hydrated. While they don't have sweat glands, they secrete a red substance called blood sweat. This helps protect their reddish-brown, thick yet sensitive skin from sunburn and keeps it moisturized. Despite their need to spend most of their time in the water, hippos can't swim. Instead, they run or walk along river beds. When they're rafting-napping while submerged in water-a subconscious reflex keeps them near the water's surface.

These formidable creatures are considered the second largest land mammal, smaller only than elephants. The average male hippo can weigh around 3,200 kilograms, while females usually weigh 30% less. They're typically 3.5 meters long and 1.5 meters tall.

Hippos have bulky, barrel-shaped bodies, short and stout legs, large heads, and enormously powerful jaws. Their jaws can open to 180 degrees and bite down with three times the strength of a lion. They're armed with impressive, sharp teeth that can grow up to 50 centimeters long, used for eating and defense. The common hippopotamus has four webbed toes adapted to support them on land and in water. On the other hand, pygmy hippos tend to have less webbing and slightly longer legs. A hippo's eyes and nostrils sit on top of its head, which helps it stay mostly submerged in water while breathing and keeping an eye on its surroundings. Although hippos can't breathe underwater, they can hold their breath for up to five minutes.

Hippos exhibit strong social bonds and typically live in groups with anywhere from 40 to 200 hippos, known as bloats, pods, or herds. They are territorial creatures and use their dung to mark their territory. Male hippos have been known to flick their dung around to assert dominance. This dung is actually important to their aquatic ecosystems, as it transfers vital nutrients from the land to the water, allowing insects, plants, and other microorganisms to flourish.

The hippopotamus plays a crucial role in the ecosystem it inhabits in other ways, too. These herbivores graze on the vegetation surrounding wetlands, helping prevent overgrowth, which can clog water sources, disrupt the natural flow of water, and threaten the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems.

Healthy wetlands act as effective carbon sinks and remove excess carbon from the atmosphere. By maintaining the balance of these delicate ecosystems, hippos help mitigate the effects of climate change.

Hippos are facing several threats to their survival as a species. Global conservation efforts are critical to ensuring the well-being of the species and the ecosystems it inhabits.

What is a hippo's scientific name?

The scientific name for the common or river hippo is Hippopotamus amphibius. The word hippopotamus comes from the Greek words for horse ( hippo) and river ( potamos), so 'river horse' is an apt nickname.

The preferred plural form of hippopotamus is 'hippopotamuses', though it's also acceptable to use 'hippopotami'.

Are hippos endangered?

The common hippopotamus has been listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2006, meaning it is not endangered. Their population is currently stable, meaning it's neither increasing nor decreasing.

The pygmy hippopotamus is classified on the IUCN Red List as endangered and has also held that status since 2006. The pygmy hippopotamus population is decreasing, with less than 2,500 mature individuals currently remaining.

Where do hippos live?

Common river hippopotamuses are native to sub-Saharan Africa. They live in waterways like rivers, lakes, swamps, and estuaries. These semi-aquatic mammals can be found in various African countries, with populations in both East and West Africa.

Pygmy hippos, unlike their larger relatives, are found in the tropical rainforests and swamps of four West African countries: Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Their slightly smaller bodies have adapted to allow them to easily navigate the vegetation in rainforests.

Hippos face several threats that jeopardise their existence. From the depths of their aquatic homes to the savannahs and rainforests, hippos confront challenges brought about by human development within natural ecosystems, including poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict.

Hippos also have a low birth rate, producing a single offspring every two years. This slow birth rate means more needs to be done to reduce the threats to their population to ensure the species survives.

Poaching

Poaching, driven by a demand for ivory (of which hippo teeth are made) and meat, poses a significant threat to the population of hippos. Although the ivory trade is often associated with elephants, hippos' canines can grow up to 50 centimeters long, which makes them a highly sought-after source of ivory.

Similar to elephant tusks, hippo teeth are used for decorative purposes. As restrictions on the elephant ivory trade increase, more poachers are turning to hippopotamus teeth as a replacement because they are often cheaper and easier to obtain.

Unfortunately, the body parts of hippos can still be traded under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Between 1975 and 2017, 770,000 kilograms of hippo teeth were traded legally. Those numbers don't account for illegal trade.

Beyond ivory, hippo meat is sought after for its perceived nutritional value and cultural significance. This demand is a key driver behind illegal hunting and overhunting.

Habitat loss

As human populations expand, they continue encroaching further upon the natural habitat of hippos, leading to habitat loss. The waterways that make up the homes of common river hippos are often impacted by agriculture, fishing, infrastructure development, and urban expansion. Any minor changes to these waterways or their surrounding vegetation can significantly impact the delicate balance on which hippos rely for their survival.

Pygmy hippos are also affected by habitat loss, as they face the threat of deforestation. Clearing forests for agriculture and logging destroys their habitats, reduces their critical food supply, and removes their shelter.

Human-wildlife conflict

As human populations continue to expand into their inhabited areas, hippos face the threat of increased human-wildlife conflict.

Hippos are known for fiercely protecting their territories and will react aggressively to humans entering their space. This poses a great risk to humans who may unknowingly enter hippo territory by boat or on land. Hippos make for dangerous opponents in a confrontation due to their massive size, strength, and ability to reach speeds of 22 miles per hour on land.

Because of the proximity between some human communities and hippo habitats, hippos can sometimes wander into human-inhabited areas, looking for food. If a hippopotamus finds itself on farmland eating crops, it may be killed in retaliation.

These conflicts are becoming more frequent as humans and hippos continue to come into closer proximity.

What is a group of hippopotamuses called?

A group of hippos is called a bloat, pod, or herd of hippos.

The plural of hippopotamus is 'hippopotamuses', but 'hippopotami' is also acceptable.

What do hippos eat?

Hippos are primarily herbivores, and their diets consist mainly of plants.

They usually leave the water at sunset to begin grazing. Grasses comprise the bulk of their diet-a hippo eats up to 110 pounds of grass per night. Considering their size, they consume a relatively small amount of food-just 1 to 1.5% of their body weight per day. This is mainly due to their sedentary lifestyle.

Sometimes hippos will venture several miles to find food. They use their ears to listen for the sound of falling fruit and use their noses to sniff out more food. Hippos also eat aquatic plants, using their lips and jaws to tear them out of the riverbeds.

Why are hippos so aggressive?

Hippos are known for their aggressive and dangerous behavior. In an encounter with a hippo, a human has an 86.7% chance of fatality. Because of their large size and weight, hippos are not as fast as other animals and will often rely on aggression as a primary defense mechanism. Their exceptionally strong teeth and jaws can be fatal weapons.

Hippos are highly territorial creatures, known to defend their habitats from intruders. Hippos are also protective over their young. Mothers often step up to protect their children from potential predators.

There are social hierarchies within groups of hippos, especially among males. The males will often have dominance battles, especially during mating season as they compete for access to female hippos.

What animal eats hippos?

Adult hippos have few predators because of their large size and aggressive nature. However, some animals still attempt to prey on hippopotamuses.

Lions sometimes attack young or weakened hippos, especially if they have been separated from their herds. Crocodiles also pose a natural threat when they inhabit the same bodies of water as hippos. In some rare cases, hyenas have scavenged on hippo carcasses or taken advantage of weakened hippos.

How much do hippos weigh?

Male hippos weigh around 3,200 kilograms, while females typically weigh around 2,240 kilograms.

Where do hippos live?

Hippos are found in sub-Saharan Africa. Common river hippos live in and around bodies of water like rivers, lakes, and mangroves. Pygmy hippos are primarily native to the tropical rainforests and swamps of a few countries in West Africa: Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Can hippos swim?

No, hippos can't swim, despite spending most of their time submerged in water. Unlike most mammals, their bodies are so dense that they can't even float. To move in the water, they run or walk along river beds.

However, they can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes.

How fast are hippos?

Hippos can run at speeds of 22 miles per hour on land, though they can't run very long distances.

How long do hippopotamuses live?

In the wild, a hippopotamus can live to be up to 40 years old. In captivity, they can live up to 61 years.

What color are hippopotamuses?

Hippopotamuses have greyish-brown skin with some pink patches.

What is the bite force of a hippo?

Hippos have a bite force of 1,800 pounds per square inch. That's stronger than the bites of bull sharks, gorillas, polar bears, and jaguars. For context, a human's bite force is around 162 pounds per square inch.

What to do if you see a hippo

It's very dangerous to encounter a hippo. If you do see a hippo, you should give it plenty of space. Hippos aren't naturally aggressive towards humans but will be aggressive if they feel threatened or if you're in their territory. Ensure you don't get in between a hippo and its food or water source.

Shouting or making loud noises is unlikely to deter a charging hippo. Your best bet is to seek refuge behind or up a tree.

How can you help?

Hippos are threatened by poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. IFAW is working to combat these issues.

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Hippopotamus facts, diet, and threats to survival | IFAW

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The hippopotamus is the second largest mammal on earth. Learn more about the hippo's habitat, diet, strength, threats, and other interesting facts.

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A fact only a wildlife nerd would call "fun".

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A fact only a wildlife nerd would call "fun".

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Its a hippo eat hippo world.

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A hippo feeds on the decaying corpse of another in Kruger National Park on April 25, 2014.

Photograph by Leejiah Dorward

Though it's rare, animals will eat their own kind when resources are scarce.

There's a new meaning to hungry, hungry hippos: Scientists have documented one of the first instances of cannibalism in the hippopotamus.

In 2014, while on safari in South Africa's Kruger National Park, conservation biologist Leejiah Dorward came across a hippo eating the partially submerged corpse of another at the edge of a river.

"I was completely amazed. It was something I had never heard of," said Dorward, a Ph.D. student at the U.K.'s University of Oxford.

When he got back to London, Dorward searched the research literature and found that cannibalism in hippos had been described only once before- by S. Keith Eltringham in 1999.

Normally thought of as herbivores, hippos have shown other carnivorous behavior before, too- in a 1998 paper, Joseph Dudley reported two of them killing and eating an impala. (Also see "' Unusual' Pictures: Lions vs. Hippo.")

David Pfennig, a biologist at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, said that there are certain advantages to eating a member of your own species.

"It's a perfectly packaged form of nutrients you're likely to need," he said. (Also see " Human Meat Just Another Meal for Early Europeans?")

There are also costs, the largest of which is the potential spread of pathogens. "You're far more likely to catch a disease from a fellow human than you are from your pet cat," Pfennig said.

Because of this, cannibalism tends to be rather rare, generally occurring under conditions of extreme hardship, when the benefits of a ready meal far outweigh the risk of catching a disease, he said.

Indeed, the previously reported incidents of hippo carnivory occurred during severe droughts.

But when Oxford's Dorward witnessed the hippo cannibalism, in April 2014, the region had more than adequate rainfall-leaving him puzzled as to its cause.

To figure it out, he's working to document other episodes of hippo cannibalism in Africa. "Because the behavior is so rare, we are relying on others to report it," said Dorward, who published the new study January 7 in the African Journal of Ecology.

Hippos aren't the only surprising cannibals-read on for more examples.

A barred tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium) seems to smile at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas.

Tiger Salamander
Eggs of this North American amphibian hatch in small, temporary pools of water, such as those from melting snow, said Pfenning, who has spent his career studying cannibalism in tiger salamanders.

In such transient habitats, tiger salamander larvae must grow rapidly if they are going to make it to adulthood. So, to speed this process along, some larvae eat each other. (Also see " What Ate a 9-Foot Great White Shark? Another Great White? ")

These cannibalistic larvae look different from their other young, with larger heads, bigger mouths, and sharper teeth, according to Pfennig.

In some areas of the arid western U.S., up to one in three larvae can be the cannibal form.

Sloth Bear
Cannibalism in the insect-eating sloth bear, native to India, came to the scientists' attention about a year ago after a mother at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., ate several of her offspring.

The cubs' mother, Khali, had successfully raised cubs in the past, and zookeepers still aren't sure what prompted her to kill and eat two of her cubs.

But zoo staff took on the 24/7 job of rearing the remaining cub, wearing her in a sling and feeding her out of a bottle. The cub is alive and healthy.

Western chimpanzees-a subspecies of chimp-groom each other in Guinea's Bossou Forest.

Chimpanzee

Jane Goodall reported cannibalism and infanticide by both male and female chimpanzees in 1977.

At first scientists thought them to be isolated attacks, but a 2007 study in Current Biology documented several other instances of this behavior, even in female chimpanzees-once thought to be gentler than more aggressive males.

To Pfennig, chimps likely cannibalize to reduce competition for food and mates-and because other chimps are simply a good meal.

Talk about having your friend and eating it, too.
Follow Carrie Arnold on Twitter and Google+.

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Rare Picture: Hippo Seen Eating Hippo-and More Cannibals

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Only the second case of cannibalistic hippos has been recorded in South Africa-but they're not the only animals that eat their own kind.

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The social structure of hippos is flexible, with a group - referred to as a siege or bloat - containing between 30-100 individuals. The size of the group is dependent on the availability of resources. These groups are polygynous lead by one male called a bull joined by multiple females. During periods of drought and scarce resources, more heterogenous mixtures of genders are possible. Hippos are extremely aggressive and will engage in physical altercations to defend their territory, young, and mates. It is common to see scars and wounds on hippos from territory and resource disputes.

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Many herbivores offer a similar path of nutrient recycling where vegetation is taking in and nutrients are returned to the soil through their excrement. Hippos are unique in that they graze on land, but take shelter from the heat in water. Hippos essentially function as a vehicle to take nutrients from plants on land to the water through their feces. This provides resources for native and essential algae at the bottom of the food chain to grow and reproduce, controlling the aquatic ecosystem. These native algae, often diatoms, actually can outcompete invasive and disruptive algae if given the resources from the hippo excrement.

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The hippopotamus is a well known and globally recognizable animal connected to the African continent. Many countries in Africa associate hippos with power and chaos. Ancient Egyptians hunted hippos as an act to prove that they could conquer evil and overcome chaos. Today, hippos are often viewed as sacred animals, intertwined in many oral traditions. Linked above is an oral Zulu story passed down through generations about how the hippo lost its hair.

Hippos also contribute to the economy of the countries where they reside such as Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zambia through tourism. Hippo and safari tours operate to allow tourists to view these animals in their natural habitat.

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While hippos are understood to be potentially dangerous in the wild and amongst groups who coexist with them, media portrayal is often positive and promoted by conservation groups and zoos. Some hippos have even found celebrity status, such as the Cincinnati Zoo resident Fiona.

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Guys, I think my life is complete. Why, you ask?

Last week, I participated in a meet-and-greet with four of Cincinnati's biggest celebrities: Fiona, Fritz, Bibi and Tucker. Yes, the world-famous hippos at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.

I'm sure you're wondering what this experience was like. Perhaps you're even jealous. I wouldn't blame you. It was simply amazing being up-close-and-personal with these beautiful animals.

The Enquirer's TikTok team pulled up to Hippo Cove Thursday, Feb. 29, and met with Jenna Wingate, the hippos' primary caretaker. She took us past the gate that typically separates us mere humans from the mighty hippos, giving us VIP access to their habitat. The six reporters (including myself) crowded around the barrier wall, on the other side of which the bloat bopped around in the water.

Jenna then yelled the hippos' names, letting them know it was time for a tiny snack. And the fun began.

Meeting Fiona, the world-famous hippo

Bibi, mom to seven-year-old Fiona and one-year-old Fritz, came on over. She's "the boss," according to Jenna, so of course she was the first one ready to eat. The little ones followed close behind, while Tucker, dad to Fritz, drifted a few feet behind them.

Jenna started tossing romaine hearts and papayas in Bibi's wide-open mouth. The fruity smell of the papaya wafted in the air as we eagerly watched through our cameras, only stepping back when Tucker decided to cool us off with a big spray of water from his nostrils.

Gee, thanks Tuck!

As Jenna fed the hippos, she told us about their personalities. Bibi is super confident and stays in charge. She was this way even before her time in Cincinnati, when she was at the Saint Louis Zoo. Meanwhile, Tucker isn't afraid to let his woman shine.

Resident superstar Fiona is currently in her teenage phase, as Jenna puts it. You can almost tell by the way Fiona pulls up looking half-asleep. Jenna told us Fiona hasn't been interested in playing with Fritz and gets annoyed when Bibi lets her baby brother get away with trouble. Ah, the life of an older sister.

Then, there's Fritz. I developed a soft spot for the 19-month-old after I covered his first media appearance while interning for The Enquirer. Fritz snuggled up beside his mom and opened his tiny mouth for pieces of lettuce. Looking at Fritz, I couldn't help but squeeze my fists and clench my teeth in response to his cuteness.

Jenna told us he's an independent boy who spends a lot of time playing with his toys. (Yes, baby hippos have toys. My little heart!)

But the fun can only last so long. We all felt a pang of sadness when Jenna shared this family might not be together forever. Hippo Cove holds up to four hippos, so if one of the females gets pregnant and has a baby, then a current habitant will have to go. Fritz will likely be the one, Jenna said. (Brb, crying.) Fiona, though, isn't going anywhere.

We're lucky Cincinnati can boast such a special group at our famous zoo, even if it can't last forever. At least that's what I'll tell myself if I ever have to cry into tissues for hours on end over a baby hippo.

P.S. Yes, you too can do a behind-the-scenes experience with the zoo. But as journalists, we wanted to try it for ourselves, so we could be like "look at this cool thing we did!!!!" and then tell you all about it.

Perhaps we will meet a few more animals in the future and write about those experiences as well.

Check out our TikTok on the meet-and greet in the video below.

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We met Fiona (and her fam!) up close. How these zoo hippos left us star-struck

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We did a meet-and-greet with four of Cincinnati's biggest celebrities: Fiona, Fritz, Bibi and Tucker.

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Current management efforts are concentrated around two focal points: reducing conflict with humans and protection of hippopotamus habitat. Organizations such as the African Wildlife Federation engage in community outreach to education and help groups build fences and ditches to protect agricultural lands and prevent contact with hippos.

National parks where hippos are protected from poachers and land is preserved to prevent further damage and development are funded mainly through tourism and supplemented with funds raised through wildlife organizations/NGOs.

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Are hippos Africa's most influential megaherbivore? A review of ecosystem engineering by the semi-aquatic common hippopotamus

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A 2023 study finds hippos may be one of the most influential megaherbivores

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A 2023 study finds hippos may be one of the most influential megaherbivores

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On top of altering water chemistry through their dung, hippos are also ecosystem engineers. Due to their large size, hippo movement actually alters geomorphological processes which can expand riverbanks, widen rivers, and produce new river channels.

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A hippo in the room: Predicting the persistence and dispersion of an invasive mega-vertebrate in Colombia, South America

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In the 1980s, infamous drug trafficker Pablo Escobar imported several hippos as exotic pets. After the collapse of Escobar's empire, the hippos were left unattended and at large which has grown into a huge issue for Colombia as their population expanded. These hippos are considered the largest invasive animal in the world, and have serious consequences for the ecosystem. Their highly nutrient dense feces change the nutrient composition of the rivers for worse, and their movements erode river banks and trample native vegetation.

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Youtube Video: A Fun Review of the Hippo's Evolutionary Successes

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Youtube Video: A Fun Review of the Hippo's Evolutionary Successes