SATURDAY CRITTERS - Hippopotamus

Last Saturday I showed you Elephants which turned out to be a very popular post, however this Saturday it is the turn of the Hippopotamus.  I am sure most of you know all about the Hippopotamus however I will give you some facts that perhaps not all of you will know and at the end of this post, I will tell you a personal story.

The name Hippopotamus comes from the Ancient Greek ‘river horse’.

Hippos bask on the shoreline and secrete an oily red substance, which gave rise to the myth that they sweat blood. The liquid is actually a skin moistener and sunblock that may also provide protection against germs.

An adult Hippo needs to resurface every 3 – 5mins to breathe. The process of surfacing and breathing is automatic, and even a hippo sleeping underwater will rise and breathe without waking.

They are only territorial while in the water. Both reproduction and birth occur in the water. Hippo calves weigh approximately 45kg at birth and can suckle on land or underwater by closing their ears and nostrils. Each female has only one calf every two years. Soon after birth, mother and young join schools that provide some protection against crocodiles, lions, and hyenas.

Despite its stocky shape and short legs, it can easily outrun most humans. Hippos have been clocked at 30 km/h over short distances.

Hippos will travel on land for up to 10km to feed. They spend four to five hours grazing and can consume 68 kg of grass each night. Considering their enormous size, a hippo's food intake is relatively low.

The hippopotamus is one of the most aggressive creatures in the world and is often regarded as one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. However, if threatened on land it will often run for water.

Their closest living relatives are cetaceans (whales, porpoises, etc.) 

A group of hippos in known as a ‘herd’, ‘pod’, ‘dale’ or ‘bloat’.

Hippos typically live for around 45 years.

The IUCN classified the Hippo as having vulnerable status in 2008. The population is in decline; declining most dramatically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Now for my promised story.

 I worked in the French Republic of Congo in 1990 as a Nurse/ Doctor and sometimes we would go out to the villages to do children's inoculations and one time we had to cross a river.   We had to use a dug out tree with no seats so we had to hunker down making sure our equipment and us would not over balance.  Half way over, the nurse who was with me who did not speak perfect English informed me that this river was very dangerous due to the ‘horse like’ animals that could upend the canoe!!  She could not find the right word for the animal and I could not work it out as I was trying to keep my balance and not end up in the river!  

Only when we got over to the other side, did I realise the animal was Hippopotamus!!  Oh dear!  I was more scared coming back and was informed that recently a Hippo had indeed overturned a canoe and a man lost his life. I was VERY relieved to make the return journey in one piece!!  

Now for a short video.  CLICK HERE if it is not below.

Thank you for your visit and I hope you enjoyed this post.

Many thanks for all your lovely comments and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.