HIPPOPOTAMUS Hippopotamus amphibious

Distribution:

They are found in Botswana, Transvaal, and in northern Namibia.

Diet:

They feed on grasses and a few aquatic plants.

Habitat:

They need permanent water surrounded by an adequate area for grazing.

Habits:

They are found in fairly large groups of mixed ages and sexes.

Almost all single animals encountered will be males.

They spend most of their day wallowing in the water coming out to sunbathe usually only in summer.

They have a skin which is sensitive to the direct sunlight, if exposed for long periods of time.

They will venture out of the water just after or around sunset with a lot of vocalization before hand.

The males only seem to defend an area within the water and not on land.

The ears, nostrils and the eyes are all basically on the same plane so that the entire body can be submerged without affecting any of their senses.

The canines in the lower jaw can reach a length of up to 30 cm.

They have horny lips which help in cropping the grass.

Breeding:

A female will give birth to one young after a gestation period of just 8 months.

The calf is independent of its mother after about 16 months.

Predators:

An adult has no threat except man.

The young are taken by Crocodile, Lion on the odd occasion and Leopard.