6 Fascinating Facts About Hippos You Probably Didn’t Know

When we talk about wildlife, it’s usually the big predators or endangered animals that get all the attention. But there are some creatures that live more quietly and still play an important role in nature. The hippopotamus is one of them.

They’re known for their large size and love for water, but there’s a lot people don’t know about them. Hippos may seem calm and slow, but they have some surprising traits– from how they eat to the threats they face in the wild.

Here are six simple facts that help us understand these fascinating animals a little better.

Hippos rank just behind elephants and rhinos when it comes to size. Adult hippos can weigh well over 1,500 kilograms. While their movements may look slow and lazy, especially in water, they’re capable of running at notable speed on land when needed– though only for short stretches.

There’s more than just one kind of hippo. Most people know the larger, river-dwelling species. But there’s also a much smaller one called the pygmy hippo. It’s shy, and lives mostly in forests. While both belong to the same animal family, their behaviours, habitats, and even appearances vary quite a bit.

Hippos spend much of their lives in rivers, but they aren’t strong swimmers. Instead of floating or gliding, they move by pushing off underwater surfaces. Their body structure allows them to stay under for several minutes, and they resurface automatically to breathe without fully waking up.

While hippos are not critically endangered, their numbers are falling. The main causes are shrinking habitats, increasing human activity near water bodies, and illegal hunting– mainly for their teeth, which contain ivory.

Despite their large mouths and sharp teeth, hippos don’t hunt or eat meat. Their diet consists mainly of grass. They usually feed at night, leaving the water to search for food and often travelling several kilometres in the process. A single hippo can eat over 30 kilograms of grass in one night.

The pregnancy period for a female hippo lasts around eight months. Calves are born relatively large and are often delivered in shallow water. Mothers are extremely protective and keep their young close, especially in the early weeks. The bond between the mother and calf is strong, and the young are introduced to group life gradually.