History of World Hippo Day
Experts believe that the modern-day hippopotamus (hippo) evolved in
Africa around 8 million years ago. While they bear a resemblance to horses and
pigs, these semi-aquatic mammals are in fact most closely related to whales,
dolphins and porpoises – no wonder they’re so good at holding their breath
underwater!
These days there are only two types, the bog-standard hippopotamus and
the smaller pygmy hippopotamus, but a few other now extinct species could be
found across Europe and in Madagascar as little as 1,000 years ago. Hippos are
now most common in countries such as Zambia and Tanzania.
In the 20th century, attempts were made to introduce
hippos into the US. The “American Hippo Bill”, raised in 1910, proposed
introducing hippo ranching in Louisiana, not only to help control a particular
plant that was taking over the bayous but also to address the American meat
crisis. However, the bill didn’t quite make it through Congress, and so hippos
remained in their native Africa until the 1980s, when the infamous drug cartel
leader Pablo Escobar (illegally) imported four hippos and took them to his
estate in Columbia. Their numbers have increased dramatically since, perhaps to
as many as 100! While the hippo has become a symbol of the area, their
inability to be managed continues to cause significant issues for the local
authorities.
In Africa, on the other hand, hippo numbers are sadly declining. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed them as a
vulnerable species in 2006 after establishing that the hippo population had
declined by as much as 20% within the previous two decades. Drought has led to
habitat loss, and the hunting and poaching of hippos, both for their meat and
ivory teeth, is also a major threat.
World Hippo Day reminds us to celebrate and value these mud-loving
mammals, in the hope that they’ll be around for many more years to come.
Hippo
facts: did you know…?
The word hippopotamus loosely
translates as “river horse” from Ancient Greek. It’s certainly an apt name, as
these creatures spend most of their lives in water, only leaving at dusk to
feed on grasses. They can hold their breath for up to 5 minutes, which means
they’re even able to give birth and sleep underwater. In fact, in much the same
way that breathing and blinking are automatic for us humans, hippos know when
to surface for oxygen subconsciously, so they come up regularly for breaths
even while staying fast asleep! Although these mammals spend a considerable
amount of time underwater, you may be surprised to learn that they can’t really
swim! Instead, they simply walk or run along the riverbed, pushing themselves
up through the water for air.
One of the main reasons hippos
spend so much time submerged underwater is to prevent their skin from drying
out and cracking under the hot sun. This is also why they love frolicking in
mud, as the slimy substance helps keep them cool! But the hippo even goes one
step further to protect itself from the sun’s rays, secreting an acidic
substance that acts as natural sunscreen. This nifty protection mechanism,
which turns red and then brown once exposed to the air, not only blocks
ultraviolet rays but also prevents the growth of potentially harmful bacteria.
Hippos are renowned for their
bulky size, with only elephants and rhinos ranking ahead of them as the largest
land mammals. An adult male can reach a whopping 2,000kg and still manage to
run at speeds of almost 20mph! This, combined with their aggressive nature and
large canine tusks, makes hippos very dangerous animals. There are many
instances of hippos attacking boats, with some people sustaining injuries or
very sadly losing their lives. Great care should therefore be taken when
encountering them in the wild. They are found inhabiting the grasslands,
savannahs and wetlands of Africa.
Hippos have
long been celebrated in Africa, revered by Zulu warriors for their bravery,
often featured in African folktales and as the image of the Ancient Egyptian
goddess Taweret.
