At the shoulder, the Great African Hippopotamus is about five feet tall and its legs are less than two feet long. The Great African Hippo weighs an average of close to 8,000 pounds and its skin, which has a lining of fat, weighs almost half a ton.

The Great African Hippopotamus lives in big African rivers and lakes in small groups. The males each occupy a specific territory while the females and juveniles live together in an area surrounded by the male's territories. Both the male and female migrate upstream in the rainy season and downstream in the dry season in search of fresh pasture.

 

HABITS

Like the common hippopotamus, the Great African Hippo rests near or in the water during the day and comes on land at night to pasture. When the Great African Hippo cries, it makes a unique "ba-ho-ho-ho" sound in a low bass that can be heard throughout the nearby area.

The Great African Hippo is born after eight months of being carried by the mother and as a baby resides close to its mother.

 

ENDANGERMENT

Hunting has made the Great African Hippopotamus endangered. Because of this, the hippo now instinctively feeds in places where high reeds offer concealment from the hunters.

The Great African Hippopotamus is a relatively harmless animal and is much less prone to attack than the rhinoceros, but if threatened, the Great African Hippo will attack without hesitation.

 

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