Hippopotamus: The River's Heavyweight

The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), or "hippo," is one of Africa’s most fascinating and powerful animals. Despite their rotund, seemingly gentle appearance, hippos are among the most dangerous animals in Africa due to their territorial nature and immense strength.

Spending much of their time submerged in rivers and lakes to stay cool, hippos emerge at night to graze on grasses, consuming up to 80 pounds of vegetation in a single night. They have remarkable adaptations, such as nostrils that close when underwater and skin that secretes a natural sunscreen.

Hippos are considered vulnerable due to habitat loss, conflicts with humans, and illegal hunting for their ivory-like teeth. Their role as ecosystem engineers—maintaining aquatic habitats and nutrient cycles—makes their conservation essential for the health of Africa’s waterways.