The hippopotamuses are artiodactyl mammals. Currently there are only two species, the one known as the common hippopotamus and the pygmy hippopotamus. The word "hippopotamus" comes from the Greek hippopótamos, a word that means river horse. In other cultures they call it river buffalo or water pig.
Of all the names that a hippopotamus can have, the truth is that pig suits it great, due to its appearance, however due to the temperament of these animals they are rather like buffaloes, far from being similar to tame horses whom you could easily ride.
In this article on our site you will be able to find information on why hippos attack. What is actually the reason for the behavior of hippos when they attack people, all this you will be able to read below:
The Temperament of Hippos
Hippopotamuses are very aggressive animals, they are classified among the most aggressive in the world Other animals such as alligators or crocodiles that share the environment with these artiodactyls rarely mess with these and respect their space. That's because hippos are territorial animals but only in the water.
To mark their territory they shake their tail while defecating, their territory covers about 250 meters. Mating rights are delimited in this space, and can range from 7 to 10 females. On land they are calm animals, however they can become aggressive in the absence of food or water and can reach amazing speeds. They are herbivorous animals that feed on terrestrial and aquatic plants, although there is also data that they can consume meat, generally carrion, since their stomach supports and can digest meat.
When a territorial fight occurs, the behavior is very aggressive but the males do not kill each other, it generally ends when it becomes clear who is stronger. Cases have been recorded where females kill the dominant male, but this only happens if he tries to kill his offspring, due to overpopulation for example
Why do hippos attack humans?
Hippos have been recorded in Africa attacking boats or people in the water. The reason is simple, they see humans as a threat to their environment and in many cases they are right.
Also, we must remember that they are very territorial animals in the water, so if a human tries to enter their territory, they will be able to discover the most aggressive side of this large mammal. This can also happen when females protect their young, they can become aggressive if they feel threatened by a human, as part of their instinct.
It can also happen that a human runs into a hippopotamus that is hungry or lacks water, for these reasons he can be attacked already that the animal is stressed and does not do it to feed itself but because of its instinctive aggressiveness.
Curiosities of hippopotamus behavior
- Many experts believe that thanks to their aggressive nature, hippos have managed to survive for many millions of years.
- In South Africa a hippopotamus fatally attacked its owner, after 7 years of friendly coexistence.
- Hippos attack more people than other animals including lions, tigers and elephants.
- If a hippo is not strong enough to defeat the alpha male, they create their own packs and mark their own territories, which they will always defend with his characteristic aggressive behavior
If you found this article interesting, we encourage you to continue browsing our site and learn about Africa's Big Five, really beautiful and impressive wildlife animals.
You may also be interested in knowing why the sloth bear is so slow or finding out if the platypus's poison is deadly. All this and much more on the animal expert website.
