World Hippo Day - 15th February 2023

            ... is a special day to celebrate the world’s third-largest mammal. It’s also a day to learn more about the hippopotamus.

The blue whale and the African elephant are the only two mammals in the world that are larger than the hippopotamus. The word hippo translates to river horse in ancient Greek. The giant animal weighs a whopping 3,600 kg (8,000 lbs). There is only one continent in the world you can find a hippo. That continent is Africa. Hippos are native to over 30 countries in Africa. These herbivores live up to 50 years in the wild. There are only two species of hippos on the planet. These include the common hippopotamus and the pygmy hippo.

Here are some more interesting facts about the hippopotamus:

- They secrete an oily red substance on their skin, which acts as sunblock and a moisturizer.
- Hippos spend up to 16 hours a day submerged in water but have to come up every 5 minutes for air.
- Mother hippos give birth to their babies in the water.
- Baby hippos weigh about 45 kg (100 lbs).
- Female hippos give birth to one calf every two years.
- Even though hippos don’t look fast, they can run up to 30 km/h (19 mph).
- Hippos consume nearly 70 kg (150 lbs) of grass in a 4 to 5 hour grazing period.
- Hippos are the most aggressive animals in the world and kill 500 humans a year.
- Predators of the hippo include hyenas, lions, and crocodiles.  Unfortunately, humans have also become a primary predator. While some hunt hippos for their meat, others hunt them for ivory canine teeth. The demand for hippo teeth escalated after the ban on the international trade of elephant ivory in 1989. Despite recent efforts to ban the trade of hippo teeth, the animal is classified as vulnerable. Through the years, the most significant decline in the hippo population has occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hippopotamus / Flusspferd (Hippopotamus amphibius)
Chobe N.P., Botswana, Africa 
   

Taken in: Namibia / Zambezi / Mbalasinte (show map)

Taken on: October 21, 2008

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Sets appears in: • animal portraits & profiles • hippos more » • Botswana 2008 « less

Camera: Canon EOS 20D, f/4.0, 1/100 sec, 300mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 20D
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	0.01 sec (1/100)
Focal Length:	300mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	-2/3 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop 24.0 (Windows)
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