![]() They sink to the bottom of rivers because their bodies are so dense. Even though they love the water and have webbed feet, hippos aren’t good swimmers. Hippos kill more humans in Africa yearly than any other species – even big cats like lions. Their speed, heavy size, large teeth, and strong mouths make them dangerous animals since humans cannot outrun them. Their speed is even more impressive despite their size, they can still run quite quickly, reaching speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. The average weight of a hippo falls between 1.5-4 tons (or 3000-8000 pounds). Although it may seem like hippos are only obese and sluggish, that is not the whole story. Olympic athletes aren’t the only ones capable of incredible feats. Hippos Can Reach Top Speeds Just Like Olympic Athletes The study’s main finding is that a hippo bite must be treated as a major trauma because it often leads to death. Eleven Cases of Hippo Bites Reported in One YearĪ study conducted over the course of one year found that all patients bitten by a hippo required emergency care at Arche Hospital in Burundi.Įven though one died, most were permanently disabled because of their injuries. So while it may be tempting to approach these creatures because of how interesting they look, remember that it’s not worth risking your life for. It only takes one chomp from its razor-sharp teeth to crush a human being. Their huge tusks, teeth, and speed make them especially deadly, with around 500 human fatalities occurring yearly.Ī Hippo Caused the Death of Thirteen PeopleĪ hippopotamus crossing the Niger River killed twelve children and one adult in 2014 by flipping their boat over. They have enormous mouths that can open up to 180 degrees and apply ten times more force than human teeth. ![]() Hippos might look cute and harmless from a distance, but they’re one of the most dangerous animals in the world.Įven though they’re plant-eaters, hippos are still very dangerous animals that can kill humans if we don’t respect their space and keep a safe distance from them. They are native to Africa and third in line size-wise only behind elephants and White Rhinos, who reign as the two largest land mammals.įully grown adult hippos weigh an average of 1.4 to 5 tons and are 2 to 5 meters in length (6 to 16.5 feet), with a standing height of about 1.6 meters (5.2 feet). The hippopotamus is a giant among land animals. They are even able to mate and give birth while underwater. The hippos migrate to the African lowlands nightly several miles (about 6 miles) away from water sources, eating grass for several hours (5-6 hours). They are similar to humans and other mammals but can hold their breath underwater for extended periods ( 5 minutes ). They even used to be found in the Nile River. They spend about 16 hours resting in lakes, rivers, and wetlands but come onto land at night to graze on grasses and reeds. Hippos are large, semi-aquatic mammals with round bodies and short legs. ![]() Here are twelve interesting facts about hippopotamuses that you may not know. Hippopotamuses are often perceived as cute and cuddly animals, but they are actually quite dangerous. A Hippo Consumes Up To 80 Pounds Of Food Per Night Symbiosis – Fish Help in Cleaning Hippos’ Skin Hippos Are Closely Related to Dolphins and Whales Hippos Are Very Good at Holding Their Breath Eleven Cases of Hippo Bites Reported in One Year.A Hippo Caused the Death of Thirteen People.While humans can run from six to eight miles per hour, hippos in some cases can run up to 30 miles an hour, according to the St. These sharp tusks never stop growing and are usually used by hippos to fight other males.Īdditionally, coming in at over 3,000 pounds on average even a bump from a hippo can be dangerous, AZ Animal says.Īlthough they may not be territorial on land, getting close to a hippo on land is still not a good idea. Hippos have tusks in the front of their mouths that can grow to be over a foot long. Two features make hippos dangerous: their tusks and their size. Generally, hippos stay in areas on rivers that are 55-110 yards off shore, and they will patrol these areas to make sure nothing is infringing on their territory, according to AZ Animals. This can be dangerous to people on boats who don't see a hippo and venture into their territory. Hippos spend most of their time submerged in water in order to keep them cool. While on land, hippos are not territorial, but they are territorial in water. Hippos do not eat humans, but they will attack people who infringe on their territory.
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