Hippopotamus

Hippos, like many water-dependent animals, have suffered great losses as a species over the past few decades, with these same declines expected to persist, leading to their status as being vulnerable. Continued habitat loss has posed the greatest threat to their existence. It has greatly reduced their populations in countries they previously thrived in, with 7 – 20% declines reported, although their current population of 125 000 to 148 000 on estimate still seems quite strong. The Kruger National Park is one of the sanctuaries in which hippos are abundant. However, the increased effects of climate change on the river and lake systems may jeopardize their future.

They are hardy animals but require a few things to make a habitat work for them – a water source in which they can completely emerge their large bodies during the day, along with a nearby grassland or woodland where they can graze. They have sensitive skins that can quickly dehydrate or get scorched by the warm African sun, which is why they depend on a water source during the day. They only come out of the water and into the open at night when they walk a few kilometers to feeding grounds to graze. Hippos do not eat aquatic plants.

Hippos are not territorial animals. Dominance hierarchies are based on size and determine which individuals get mates during the mating season. They form groups of a few individuals that inhabit the same water source. These groups are often related, especially in areas where the hippo population is sparse. They tolerate the presence of other creatures in the water but do not respond with the same calm when their young are threatened. Crocodiles can often be seen amongst hippos in the water and typically do not pose a threat to them.

Hippos are not territorial animals. Dominance hierarchies are based on size and determine which individuals get mates during the mating season. They form groups of a few individuals that inhabit the same water source. These groups are often related, especially in areas where the hippo population is sparse. They tolerate the presence of other creatures in the water but do not respond with the same calm when their young are threatened. Crocodiles are often seen amongst hippos in the water and typically do not threaten them.

Hippos generally mate around the driest times of the year, causing most births to occur during the rainy or wet season when offspring have the greatest chance at survival. Hippos have a gestation period of over eight months, after which a mother will give birth to a single calf. She can only start this process that results in beautiful young offspring being born around nine years when she matures sexually. Males will know whether a female is in heat by carefully walking around the back of each female in their close vicinity to smell their genitals. Mothers can have a new young one every two years or so.

They are fairly immune to predation for the most part and are not easily rattled by even the largest predators. Their young are much more vulnerable and often need protection from large predators – mainly lions and spotted hyenas. For this reason, mothers are on high alert when going out to graze with their young and can become very aggressive when they are in danger. Mothers can protect their young and even kill their attackers in the process, with their huge jaws and powerful bite force able to pierce a crocodile in half and kill a lioness.