THE UNUSUAL FACTS ABOUT HIPPOPOTAMI

Did you know that hippos are the a few most dangerous mammals on earth? While primate adventures (mountain gorilla and chimpanzee trekking) and big five game spotting has become the most sought after experience in most Uganda’s safari destinations, adding hippos into your bucket list is exceptionally one more thing you should consider in your next holiday to Africa. Hippopotami feature among the very few unique mammals on earth and in Africa, there are 2 (two) species-one in East Africa and in southern Sahara and the pygmy hippos that come in small sizes. And interestingly, they are the third biggest land mammal species.

They love water and this explains why the Greeks describe them as River horse. They spend about 16 hours per day while in Rivers and Lakes to keep themselves cool during the scotching sun. They come in huge bodies and submerge themselves into the water with only nostrils peeping out. Hippopotami are a few most graceful mammals in the water and they are capable of keeping the breath while in the water for about 5 minutes. Interestingly, they are also huge enough to even walk or stand on the Lake floor or simply lie in the shallow water. They weigh around 3600 kilograms and they tap their feet on the ground to propel themselves. Each foot feature 4 toes which distribute their weight. When they get out of water, they produce a red colored substance to cool themselves from the heat and this secretion is called blood sweat. Around evening, they get out of the water to feed given that they are herbivore depending on short grass and can feed for over 6 hours at night feeding up to 68 kilograms or more.

They can also mate and give birth. Their group is called a school and they range from 10 to 30 members in one school with one dominant male. In the dry spell, the dominant male can choose a partner and then other males can fight each other for the left females. Females give birth to one calf at a time either on land or underwater and they weigh about 45 kilograms. After, the mothers leave the school for short time to bond with their calves underwater and after some weeks, the calves can finally exit the water to feed on grass. They are among the most harmful creatures on earth featuring mainly the most powerful jaws and sharp teeth which helps them to crush a crocodile or split a boat in two parts. They can thrive up to 40-50 years and they are also listed in the IUCN Red book as the most vulnerable species as result of continued habitat loss and poaching.

In conclusion, if you are a very keen nature enthusiast, you can easily spot out most of these unusual traits hippos. To explore more about these incredible mammal species in Uganda, a boat cruise should be a must for you and the prime destinations for you to realize your dream include Murchison Falls National Park,  Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and other areas.