Hippopotamus

Name: Hippopotamus
Scientific Name: Hippopotamus amphibius

Basic Information:
The hippopotamus is semi-aquatic, living in rivers and lakes in sub-Saharan Africa in large groups of up to 40 hippos. During the day they remain cool by staying in the water or mud; reproduction and childbirth both occur in water, where territorial bulls preside over a stretch of river. They emerge at dusk to graze on grass. While hippos rest near each other in territories in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and hippos are not territorial on land.

The hippopotamus is recognizable for its barrel-shaped torso, hairless body, stubby legs and tremendous size. It is similar in size to the White Rhinoceros; only elephants are consistently larger and despite its stocky shape and short legs, it can easily outrun a human. Despite its popularity in zoos and cuddly portrayal as gentle giants in fiction, the hippopotamus is among the most dangerous and aggressive of all mammals. They are still threatened by poaching for their meat and ivory canine teeth, and by habitat loss.

Habitat Information:
Savanna - Characterized by sparse tree cover, savanna environments are most commonly found in Africa. In our savanna habitat, visitors can see the animals one would normally expect, such as lions, hippopotami, and elephants, as well as less well-known but no less important animals, such as insects and arachnids.

Hippos at Windaroo:
Hippos have long been popular zoo animals. Our hippos were bred in captivity and are happily living among the other savanna animals here at Windaroo Zoo.

Related Animals:
Cheetah
Hyena
Lion
Zebra
A-Z Animal List