Hippopotamus

Hippopotamuses are found in African river areas.

Mature bulls protect mating areas inhabited commonly by approximately 20 individuals, females and their offspring and occasionally also subordinate non-breeding males. Hippopotamuses spend days in the water and leave to search for graze in the nights.

Females give after 8.5 months of gestation birth to a single calf. Normally the birth takes place in the water. Young animals reach sexual maturity at around the age of eight, males slightly earlier than females.

Main threats for the population of hippopotamuses are illegal hunting for meat and ivory present in their canine teeth and habitat loss caused by extensive use of the river areas for human consumption.

Hippopotamuses protecting their territory or calves react aggressively to disturbances and they are dangerous also to people present in the area.