Hippo Facts:
Hippo (Hippopotamus amphibious capensis) inhabit the region from Zambia to South Africa. Males weigh between 1,500 and 1,800 kilos (approx. 3,300 to 3970 lbs) and females between 1,300 and 1,500 kilos (approx. 2,870 to 3300 lbs). Hippos can run at 30 km/hr (approx. 18 mph) on land and walk at 8 km/hr (5 mph) underwater.
At dusk, hippos leave the water and walk up to 10 kilometres (6 miles) inland in search of grasses for grazing. Young and sick hippos are vulnerable to attacks by lions, hyenas and crocodiles. There have been reports of cannibalism with hippos eating others that have died. This is thought to be the reason for the high death rate of hippos during anthrax outbreaks.
In the water, adult hippos need to surface every 3 to 5 minutes to breathe. The young must surface every 2 to 3 minutes.
Crocodiles have a great respect for hippos and will try to avoid them. Where that’s not possible, they share the waterway. Only the largest crocodiles will risk attacking an unguarded hippo calf, but such attacks are risky in the extreme.