The Mighty River Horse: The Fascinating World of Hippos
Get ready to know nature’s most powerful gift while considering them the most dangerous animal when the word "river horse" comes to mind, despite the fact they are not. In the ancient world, Hippos were often associated with regeneration and rebirth.
Among the biggest miracles of nature, hippos do sweat a red liquid—not blood—a red oily substance that protects the skin surface and acts as a moistener along with sunblock. These are mainly unstable red and orange pigments that act as germ killers.
CAN HIPPOS BREATHE UNDERWATER?
It is one of the only animals that can shut down its breathing mechanism.
So adult hippos have an automatic process of surfacing and breathing. He needs to come back to the surface after 4 to 5 minutes and can keep his ears and nostrils tightly closed to keep the water out. Is this not amazing?
WHY ARE HIPPOS NOT DROWNING IN WATER DESPITE THEIR WEIGHT?
They have a special feature in their bodies as they keep their nostrils open when driving underwater, so blood circulation is totally managed with a slow heartbeat and their lungs are elastic rather than rigid.
They have hollow bones that keep them light, so they can swim effectively.
EATING HABITS OF ADULT HIPPOS
They mostly forage food at night, are considered herbivores, and can consume 35 kg in one night. They like to feed on the grasses and vegetables surrounding the river and lakes in their normal habitat.
HOW CAN YOU MAKE THEM HAPPY?
Watermelons and muskmelons can be offered as treats, as they love to have them.
LIFE SPAN
Hippos can live up to 40 years in the wild, and their life span can be i0ncreased by better management.
BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY OF HIPPOS
This massive creature appears clumsy but can run at 48 km/h and prefers to live in groups despite having no social bonding.
The fact that makes them different from other animals is that they are involved in spreading feces for territory marking.
ARE HIPPOS DANGEROUS IN WATER?
Hippos can swim 20 miles per hour and are more ferocious in water as compared to land, so when they feel threatened, they can attack with their massive jaws and teeth.
REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR IN HIPPOS
Male hippos are much more balanced and prettier than female hippos, and they are highly territorial, as both mating and birth occur in water with a gestation period of 340 days.
The dominant male has the right to mate with all adult females in the herd.
DO YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BABY HIPPOS?
Baby hippos are some of the strangest and most adorable little units that can weigh up to 100 pounds.
A fascinating fact is that newborn calves can float and walk soon after birth, and their mother nurses them in water while grazing at night.
Mother hippos form a strong bond with their newborn calf during the first few weeks and do not allow other hippos to approach them while they are lactating; they stay with them for six years after they are sexually mature.
Knowing that a baby hippo will suckle the mama for about a year and that they have a high risk of being attacked by other male predators, including adult male hippopotamuses, and that they always stay with and sleep with the mother hippo and can even climb its back for rest,
Female babies mature earlier than adults, as males take longer to mature.
HOUSING MANAGEMENT FOR OUTDOOR AND INDOOR ENCLOSURE
Outdoor and indoor enclosures should be well equipped with a pool so that they can easily enjoy it and should have a space requirement of 10,000 square feet, while indoor enclosures should protect them from extreme environments with a space requirement of 2000 square feet.
DISEASE
They can be killed by anthrax (blood oozing from a natural orifice) and other deadly diseases.
THREATS
Unfortunately, due to habitat loss and illegal trade, their number is decreasing day by day.