Hippos coexist alongside a variety of large predators in their habitats. Nile crocodiles, lions, and spotted hyenas are known to prey on young hippos.[35] Beyond these, adult hippos are not usually preyed upon by other animals due to their aggression and size. Cases where large lion prides have successfully preyed on adult hippos have been reported, but it is generally rare.[74] Lions occasionally prey on adults at Gorongosa National Park and calves are sometimes taken at Virunga.[75] Crocodiles are frequent targets of hippo aggression, probably because they often inhabit the same riparian habitats; crocodiles may be either aggressively displaced or killed by hippos.[76] In turn, very large Nile crocodiles have been observed preying occasionally on calves, "half-grown" hippos, and possibly also adult female hippos. Groups of crocodiles have also been observed finishing off still-living male hippos that were previously injured in mating battles with other males.[77][78]
Graphic Content: Baby Hippo Killed By Its Pod
The hippo is considered to be extremely aggressive and has frequently been reported charging and attacking boats.[90] Small boats can easily be capsized by hippos and passengers can be injured or killed by the animals, or drown in the water. In one 2014 case in Niger, a boat was capsized by a hippo and 13 people were killed.[91] Hippos will often raid farm crops if the opportunity arises, and humans may come into conflict with them on these occasions. These encounters can be fatal to either humans or hippos.[92]
If the baby is born underwater, the mother needs to push it to the surface to breathe. Newborn hippos are only able to hold their breath for about 40 seconds at a time. The mother stays in the water with her newborn for several days without eating, and she waits until her baby is strong enough before they dare leave the water at night to graze. Mothers nurse their babies, even underwater, for about eight months.
The nursery staff is sharing expertise with others on the Fiona care team. Dan, who helps take care of Fiona and her parents, is learning the art of bottle feeding a baby hippo. He, and others on the hippo care staff, will continue to give Fiona bottles even after she is reunited with her parents. #TeamFiona
Thanks Stephen, what an extraordinary story. For those who haven't clicked on the link yet, the hippo was killed by accident during a pig-shoot and had been living in the wild for about five years after its escape or release from a (now closed) wildlife park. As is noted in a related article, how many other big escaped exotics might be lurking, unknown to anyone, in the area?
I seem to recall on one of the discovery/nat geo shows about crocs someone was catching a large nile croc (it may even have been a quest for Gustav) when the croc they had noosed and were in the process of catching at night was killed stone dead by something under water (or undercover of darkness). A large wound attributed to a hippo tooth (tusk?) was found in the middle of it. Can't remember which show though.
Although...admittedly, when I read the post title on my blogroll, for some reason I though Hippos were carniverous...or perhaps omniverous, but I see now that the simple, yet classic "predator killed by mama while protecting her baby" routine. lol! Poor Crocodylus nitolicus. :( 2ff7e9595c
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