Hippopotamus

Species: Hippopotamus
Habitat: African rivers
Status: Vulnerable
DAK Locale: Kilimanjaro Safari & Pangani Forest

Hippopotamus is Greek for "river horse." As its name suggests, this animal spends a lot of time in the water. In fact, it is rare to see them out of the water at the Animal Kingdom. They tend to congregate in groups during the day, splitting up at night to eat. They follow trails to feeding grounds before heading back into the cool water before dawn. They secrete a red liquid from their pores that protects their skins from the sun, but they still tend to spend most of the daytime submerged. They are excellent swimmers and can remain underwater for five minutes. Their excrement is an important part aspect of aquatic plant life. However, their huge bulk can cause riverbank erosion leading some countries to begin culling programs.

Females become sexually mature around the age of 9, males at about 7. Females give birth to a single offspring (generally) and usually only become pregnant every other year. They are relatively long lived with hippos in captivity eclipsing 50 years of age. Hippos over 40, however, are somewhat rare in the wild.

As noted, hippos live in groups. Most being comprised of 10 to 15 animals of females and the young. However, there have been reports of herds in the range of 150 animals. Adult males tend to be solitary but that is not an absolute as small bachelor herds are known.

The hippo is listed as vulnerable. It has been hunted for meat, fat, hides and ivory teeth. In fact, the teeth's ivory does not yellow with age like an elephant's tusk making it more valuable on the black market. They also been hunted where they have damaged farmlands. Also, they are considered dangerous. It is believed that hippos may kill up to three thousand people a year. The species is wide ranging, however, being found in most areas of the continent.