Hippo – See Animals Wild

Hippopotimae

There are just 2 species in this genus, the common hippopotamus and the pygmy hippopotamus. They are the closest living land relative to whales and dolphins.

They are quite different size. They pygmy hippo is half the hight of the giant hippo, and less than a quarter of the weight. Pygmy hippos spend more time out of the water, but as their home is deep in the Congo rainforest, there is little risk of sunburn, while hippos are so prone that they create their own secretions, which works like sub cream.

Common hippopotamus

Pygmy hippopotamus

The Pygmy Hippopotamus is found in western Africa, mainly in Liberia, but also in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire. A area essential for their long term survival for the Pygmy Hippo’s protection is Sapo National Park in eastern Liberia. Swamps, wallows or rivers and sometimes in hollows under the banks of streams. There are only 2000-2500,

While, the common hippo is found in the rest of the Africa, and the population is thought to be around 125000-148000. This is a dramatic reduction, and given the area of savannah habitats, there is definitely space for more. Common hippos are relatively easy to find in the wild, and while they are one of the most dangerous animals and cause the most injuries, should they be in the water, you can approach relatively close without worrying about your safety

EU blocks uplifting the Hippopotamus to an Appendix 1 endangered animal from an Appendix 2

Tim
November 23, 2022

Hippopotamus populations have declined by 30-50% over the last decade. This is an animal which is moving fast in the direction of extinction, yet despite a plea from 10 african countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Gabon, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo) to move them to appendix 1 has been blocked.

Tim
July 5, 2024

To be honest, I find this an odd piece of news. In the 1870s, the horse was photographed with all 4 feet off the ground at the same time. In fact, horses do not only do this at the gallop, but also at the trot. If this is true, why should the hippopotamus be any …...

Tim
August 14, 2022

Currently there is a trade in various hippopotamus body parts, but if the animal was listed as endangered, this would cease to be legal. Currently there are between 115,000-130,000 (though other knowledgeable experts can put the estimate as low as 80,000) but it is not what is happening now, so much as the threat that …...

Tim
March 11, 2021

Liberia is a country in west Africa. It still has large tracts of intact rainforest, however until recently these areas have not been scientifically thoroughly surveyed,

Tim
July 6, 2019

Botswana house around 135,000 of the 350,000 remaining elephants in Africa. In the past they have made a small but significant amount of money from these elephants by hunting, but a few years ago the president of Botswana stated that if they stopped hunting elephants and concentrated on photographic safaris they could make more money …...

Hippopotimae

EU blocks uplifting the Hippopotamus to an Appendix 1 endangered animal from an Appendix 2

Hippos can fly! (well at least leave the ground)

Should hippos be listed as endangered?

Liberia in west Africa still has large forests blocks, camera traps show that they are full of wildlife

Botswana lifted its ban on hunting elephants last month – this argument is more contentious even amongst conservationists than you would think