A Crash of Hippos at Lake Naivasha, Kenya

       

A Crash of Hippos at Lake Naivasha, Kenya

 

The hippopotamus or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa.  The hippopotamus is semiaquatic, inhabiting rivers, lakes and mangrove swamps, where territorial bulls preside over a stretch of river and groups of five to 30 females and young. During the day, they remain cool by staying in the water or mud; reproduction and childbirth both occur in water. They emerge at dusk to graze on grasses. While hippopotamuses rest near each other in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and hippos are not territorial on land.  Hippopotamuses are among the largest living mammals; only elephants and some rhinoceroses and whales are heavier. They are considered megafauna.

 

Hippos are also considered deadly by the locals.  People are often trampled by Hippos out of water.   Hippos are also very aggressive towards humans, whom they commonly attack whether in boats or on land with no apparent provocation.  They are widely considered to be one of the most dangerous large animals in Africa.