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Rhinoceros are big, fast and formidable fighters-when they want to be. While these horned beasts are potentially very dangerous, they generally prefer to keep to themselves. Despite that attitude, rhinoceros are no pacifists, and when they feel threatened, they'll steer their large, dangerous bodies directly toward a fight.

Unpredictability

Unfortunately for the rhinoceros, his sense of sight isn't particularly strong. If anything, though, this makes him more dangerous, not less. Since he can't rely on his eyes to identify whether someone or something in his territory represents a threat, his reactions can be unpredictable. Even a benevolent visitor that the rhinoceros doesn't recognize may seem threatening, leading him to charge in preemptive self-defense. You might expect them to use their horns as weapons, but they actually use their lower incisors, as well as their formidable size and speed: an incensed rhino can knock over a vehicle with people inside.

Somewhat Gentle Giants

Unpredictability goes both ways with the rhino, so while he's dangerous in attack mode, he's just as likely to leave you alone-it all depends on the individual. Some rhinos are predisposed to running away from a threat. And since the rhinoceros can charge at up to 40 miles per hour, he could be making a relatively speedy getaway. In any case, rhinos don't typically go looking for a fight, and are only dangerous when they feel threatened.

Protective Creatures

Rhinos aren't just protective of themselves; they're protective of each other as well. While rhinoceros typically leave a solitary life, especially the males, females are notably protective of their young. The rhino calf stays with her mother for two years or longer, and during that time the mother is incredibly protective. She won't hesitate to defend her calf, and when she senses that the calf is threatened, she becomes an incensed and dangerous opponent.

Rhino Foes

Because rhinos are such formidable creatures, they don't typically have to prove how dangerous they are: they look the part enough to keep most predators away. In some cases, a calf away from her mother may be preyed upon by lions, but the mother won't tolerate their presence if she's around. Despite how dangerous these animals are, they are still endangered, and in large part because of human poaching: rhinoceros horns are valued in some parts of the world, and the animals are illegally killed for them.

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Rhinoceros are big, fast and formidable fighters-when they want to be. While these horned beasts are potentially very dangerous, they generally prefer to keep to themselves. Despite that attitude, rhinoceros are no pacifists, and when they feel threatened, they'll steer their large, dangerous ...

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How to Survive a Rhino Attack or Charge: SAFETY TIPS

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If for some reason you've not taken the best advice - which is to never approach a rhino - let's walk through some basic ways you can escape a rhino attack.

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A South African safari turned into a terrifying high speed chase through the brush with one of the area's largest animals.

Rian Boshoff, who was with his tour group to photograph leopards last month, told ABC News they first spotted the white rhino in the road and slowly tried to pass it when the animal charged.

"At first, I just thought it's going to be like a short charge and then it would stop," Boshoff said. "The road had a lot of turns in it which made it difficult for us to get away."

VIDEO: Rhino gives chase to tourists on safari

But even the driver's maneuvers weren't enough to shake the animal off their tail.

"The driver took a 90-degree turn into the bush to try and deter the rhino because they have bad eyesight," Boshoff explained. "But he was determined to get to us he just kept on coming."

Cellphone video captured a portion of the nearly two-minute chase by the three ton animal, which can reach speeds up to 30 mph.

Looking back on the closer-than expected-encounter, Boshoff said, "I thought it [was] going to eat us."

The safari driver reportedly told the group that same rhino had charged other vehicles in the past.

"The driver really did a good job to keep us safe," Boshoff explained. "He just asked us to sit still and he got us out of the situation."

There were no injuries reported from the incident.

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Tourist recalls being chased by a white rhino on South African safari

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A South African safari turned into a terrifying high speed chase through the brush with one of the area's largest animals. Rian Boshoff, who was with his tour group to photograph leopards last month, told ABC News they first spotted the white rhino in the road and slowly tried to pass it when the animal charged.

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In need of a quick fact about rhinos? Look no further! Check out our favorite fun facts about rhinos. Absolutely facinating stuff!

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The Most Dangerous Animal is...the Hippo?

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The Most Dangerous Animal is...the Hippo?

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What do you think is the most dangerous animal in the world?

You might be surprised to learn that one of the most dangerous animals in the animal kingdom is actually the hippopotamus!

That's right, hippos are one of the most dangerous animals in the world and are the most dangerous animal on the African continent. Keep reading to find out why.

Hippos Are Huge

A hippo can weigh as much as 8,000 pounds! That's approximately the same as 2 regular-sized cars!

Not all hippos reach 8,000 pounds, but even an average one weighs about 3,500 pounds. With that much weight, just their size alone makes hippos much more dangerous compared to other, smaller animals.

Hippos Have Sharp Teeth and Strong Jaws

Hippos have very sharp, large teeth - some can reach up to 3 feet in length!

In addition to sharp teeth, a hippo also has a large mouth (up to 4 feet across) with a strong jaw that can be used like a sledgehammer for crushing.

Hippos are Fast

Most people know that hippos are big and have sharp teeth. However, not everyone realizes how fast hippos can be.

Hippos can run between 20 and 30 miles per hour. They can't run this fast for very long, but they still have an advantage over hunters and other predators.

Hippos can Move in Water, too

Don't try swimming away from a hippo!

In addition to being fast runners, hippos are also agile in the water.

Hippos can move quickly through the water - sometimes up to 15 miles per hour. They don't technically swim, though. Instead, hippos walk or run underwater.

How does a 3,500-pound animal not sink? It all has to do with the amount of fat they have. Since hippos have so much body fat, they can easily stay afloat in the water.

Hippos control their breath and body position to help them float or sink. When they sink to the bottom of the water, they walk or run underneath until they reach the shallow end again.

Hippos also can hold their breath for several minutes at a time, making it easier for them to move through the water without coming up for air very often.

Hippos Attack for Different Reasons

Hippos are responsible for more human deaths on the African continent than any other large animal - over 500 per year. So what provokes them?

One of the reasons hippos are so dangerous is the fact that they are unpredictable. It's not always clear why hippos attack, but it often has to do with whether they are male or female.

Male hippos attack when they want to defend their territory, while female hippos will attack when they think their babies are in danger.

What Do You Think of Africa's Most Dangerous Animal?

Were you surprised to learn all these interesting facts about hippos? Did you already know that the hippo is a dangerous animal?

Comment and let us know what you think!

You can also learn even more about hippos by visiting our hippopotamus facts page. Check out our large Animals section too!

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Hippo - Is it the Most Dangerous Animal in [year] (Fun Facts)

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The Most Dangerous Animal is...The Hippo? What do you think is the most dangerous animal in the world? Sharks? Alligators? Bears? You might be surprised to learn that one of the most dangerous animals in the animal kingdom is actually the hippopotamus!

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Hippo chasing boat! Scary! (ORIGINAL VIDEO)

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The common hippopotamus ( Hippopotamus amphibius), whose name comes from the Greek word for "water horse," is the third largest land animal after elephants and white rhinos. Despite its large size and innocent, sometimes sluggish appearance, it is fast and furious, both in the water and on land. In fact, it is considered one of the deadliest animals in Africa.

The common hippo shouldn't be confused with the pygmy hippo, its much smaller relative. The pygmy hippo measures only five feet in length and three feet in height, compared to the common hippo's 16.5-foot maximum length and five-foot height. Common hippos weigh anywhere from 1.4 to five tons, while pygmies max out around 600 pounds.

Hippos live in groups called schools or bloats (also named pods or sieges) and jostle for a position in the social ladder. They like to spend most of their time submerged in water, up to 16 hours per day, as this keeps their skin cool and moist. They do not have true sweat glands, but rather secrete a substance called " blood sweat" from their skin that creates a protective layer of mucous and prevents sunburn. It may also prevent infections from setting in to wounds while hippos lounge in filthy water.

While the species is mostly sedentary, male hippos make efforts to assert their dominance after age seven. The roars and big yawns they make are actually aggressive displays, showing off their sizable and sharp teeth. They are able to open their mouths to an impressive 150 degrees and will often do this to size each other up, an act known as "gaping." Sometimes the sounds they make are incredibly loud, measuring up to 115 decibels, which is about what you'd hear if you were 15 feet away from speakers at a rock concert.

Not only will hippos fight each other-particularly when their areas are crowded and they have to compete for resources-but they will also charge anything that is perceived as a threat. This includes cattle grazing nearby or people either on land or even when in boats traveling along a river. Hippos can run a surprising 19 miles per hour ( 30 kilometers per hour) for short distances, so it isn't easy to outrun one even on land. In the water, it can move at a speed of five miles per hour (eight kilometers per hour). Hippos are said to kill about 500 people each year.

It is best to stay out of their territory; but if you do find yourself there, alert them to your presence by tapping on the boat, similar to how you would talk loudly in grizzly bear territory.

Despite the fact that hippos are so deadly to human, humans are the ones causing hippos to fast disappear as a species. The common hippo population in the Democratic Republic of Congo has declined by 95% since the beginning of the 21st century. This species is, unfortunately, very valuable to hunters for its meat, tusks, and hide. Following the 1989 ban on elephant ivory, demand went up for hippo ivory; apparently it is softer and easier to carve, which lends to its appeal. While hunting hippopotamuses is illegal, it is still a chief reason for the species' population decline. The IUCN Red List categorizes hippos as vulnerable.

Because the species has lost vast portions of its habitat to human settlements and deforestation, many hippos are now confined primarily to protected areas. Once upon a time, they were native to 30 African countries and ranged all the way from the Nile Delta to the Cape of Good Hope. They're now extinct in the wild in Egypt, Eritrea, Mauritania, Algeria, and Liberia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is at risk of a hippo attack?

The vast majority of humans will never encounter a wild hippo in their lifetimes, which makes these animals relatively nonthreatening to people. Those who are at risk of a hippo attack, however, are people who fish in their territory in Africa. As demand for fish grows throughout hippos' range, an increasing number of attacks are reported.

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Are Hippos Dangerous? Understanding Their Aggressive Behavior

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The common hippopotamus ( Hippopotamus amphibius), whose name comes from the Greek word for "water horse," is the third largest land animal after elephants and white rhinos. Despite its large size and innocent, sometimes sluggish appearance, it is fast and furious, both in the water and on land.

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THIS terrifying footage shows the moment a group of sightseers took a boat out to look for hippos - only to end up being chased by one of the huge animals.

The hair-raising video shows the massive animal gliding through the water in the wake of the speedboat, mostly underwater, but occasionally rearing its head to breathe as it continues to follow the boat.

A group of tourists caught the nerve-shredding encounter on camera as they came within yards of the beast.

The hippo had taken chase after the boat strayed into its waters - nearly getting within touching distance of the frightened sightseers.

Chilling footage shows the massive beast dropping its head below the water from a distance, but within seconds the giant resurfaces within metres to the boat.

The shocking incident took place on Friday morning on Lake Victoria in Kenya.

Hippos can measure up to five metres in length and can weigh a whopping 235 stone.

They are considered to be the world's deadliest land mammal, killing up to 500 people a year in Africa.

DEADLY BEASTS: Hippos Kill 500 people a year

In October a video emerged showing the distressing moment a hippopotamus dragged a little boy to his death in Lake Victoria.

Footage shows the boy submerged in the water as locals cried out and pelted the animal with rocks.

The boy, who has not been named, was playing by the shore in Mbita, Kenya.

The animal later released the youngster but he died from his injuries.

The video, which was filmed on September 16, shows locals rushing to the water's edge.

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Tourists chased by furious hippo during speedboat safari in Kenya

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THIS terrifying footage shows the moment a group of sightseers took a boat out to look for hippos - only to end up being chased by one of the huge animals. The hair-raising video shows the massive animal gliding through the water in the wake of the speedboat, mostly underwater, but occasionally rearing its head to breathe as it continues to follow the boat.

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Hippo Facts

1) 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.

2) They are considered the second largest land animal on Earth (first place goes to the elephant!). Males measure around 3.5m long and 1.5m tall, and can weigh up 3,200kg. That's as much as three small cars!

3) To stay cool in the blistering African heat, hippos spend most of their day in rivers and lakes. 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?

4) These magnificent mammals were once found throughout all sub-saharan Africa. Sadly, populations have declined due to habitat loss and hunting. Today, they are largely confined to protected areas in East African countries.

5) Hippos are most active at night, when they forage for food. 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!

6) Despite their enormous size, hippos are great swimmers and can hold their breath for up to five minutes underwater. When completely submerged, their ears and nostrils fold shut to keep water out.

7) Hippos usually live in groups (or "herds") of around ten to 20 individuals, led by one large dominant male. The other members are females, their young and a few young non-breeding males.

8) Dominant males are very protective over their group. 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.

9) Female hippos, called cows, give birth every two years, usually to a single calf. 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.

10) In the wild hippos live for around 40 years. In captivity, they tend to live longer and may reach up to 50 years old.

Photos: Hippo family: Sergey Uryadnikov, Dreamstime. Hippo with jaws open: Johannes Gerhardus Swanepoel, Dreamstime.

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10 Hippo Facts! - National Geographic Kids

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1) 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. 2) They are considered the second largest land animal on Earth (first place goes to the elephant!).