Hippos open their impressive jaw to yawn. Hippos are mainly vegetarians but still have a good set of canine teeth however, they use their canine teeth as a defence tool in combat. What do hippos have canine teeth if they dont eat meat? However, sometimes these signs can be unnoticed, and the hippo will attack due to people being in their territory. These villagers know the hippopotamuses’ nature and, most of the time, understand the signs of aggression, like yawning and can take necessary actions before things get complicated. To do that every day, they have to sail through the areas that are prime hippo territories. For example, in Okavango, villagers use boats for transportation and fishing. Most of the time, hippos and people encounter each other in areas surrounding water bodies. It is one of the most dangerous animals that you can find in Africa. Why do hippos kill people?Įven though Africa is a land of lions and other dangerous animals, hippopotamuses create the most fear among people. Every year, hippos kill about 500 people in Africa. The female hippos can also get pretty aggressive if something comes between the mother and their babies. However, in most cases, the male hippos show excessive aggressiveness in defending their territory. More often than not, hippos attack and capsizes boats in Africa. Whenever anyone invades their habitat, the hippos will not hesitate to attack the animal or the person. The hippos can mark their territory both on land and in water. Hippos are considered one of the most dangerous and aggressive land animals. Hippos are considered aggressive animals because they are very protective of their territory. Hippo in Territory What makes a hippo so aggressive? If you observe a group of hippopotami for a long time, you will find that they use vocalisations to communicate. Once the babies get older, only the females will stick to the present group, and the male hippos will start forming their bachelor group. Most of the time, the baby hippos remain very close to their mother. The male hippos stay in a particular area, and the female hippos tend to gather on the other end. When the submissive male starts showing interest in mating, the dominant male drives them away from the territory.Įven while living in the herd, the hippos tend to segregate themselves from each other. These incidents occur if the subordinate male is not inclined to mate. Even though the male hippos are very aggressive towards each other, in some cases, the dominant males tolerate the presence of subordinate males in their territory. Mainly the dominant male of the group controls the movement of the females. The female gives birth in a secluded place and will try to keep their child away from the group for a significant amount of time. That is why the mother hippo generally moves away from the group before giving birth. These animals are highly individualistic and always put their requirements and that of their offspring before the needs of any other group member.Īdult hippos can get highly violent in most cases, making the group hazardous for the babies. While relaxing, hippos do not communicate with each other. However, most of the time, this bond does not last for their entire lifetime. Only the mothers can form significantly more substantial relationships with babies. Now researchers believe that hippos generally do not form close relationships with other hippos. That notion has changed in recent times completely. Previously researchers believed that hippos form social bonds with other hippos while they relax in the water. The male-dominant hippos claim territory in the river and lake by flinging their excrement in every direction. The number of hippos living in a territory of a dominant male can range from two to about thirty hippos. A group of female hippos and their offspring live in their territory region. The social structure of the hippopotamuses is fascinating. It not only helps them to keep the digestive system clean but also helps to reduce their body temperature significantly. The hippos can expel about 800 pounds of excrement every day. The hippopotamus also uses defecation to cool down their body temperature. This showcasing helps the male hippo gain the attention of the females it also helps them mark their territory. During defecation, the male hippopotamus spins its tail to spray its poop all around the place. Most of the time, hippos poop while still in the water.
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