Everything about the hippopotamus
Biology, behaviour, conservation, and comparisons — the most complete guide to the world’s third-largest land mammal.
The Essentials
All articles →The most surprising facts about hippos in one place.
🌿 What Do Hippos Eat?Diet, feeding patterns, and nightly grazing behaviour.
📍 Hippopotamus HabitatWhere hippos live, which countries, and why they need water.
🐣 Reproduction & CalvesGestation, birth, calf development, and maternal bonds.
👥 Social StructureHow hippo pods work — bulls, cows, and hierarchy.
🛡️ Hippo PredatorsWhat threatens hippos — and what almost nothing can.
🦕 Hippopotamus EvolutionFrom whale ancestor to Africa’s river giant.
⚠️ Deaths Caused by HipposWhy hippos kill ~500 people per year — and how to stay safe.
Latest Articles
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Are There Hippos in the USA?
No wild hippos live in the USA — but you can see, feed, and even watch them swim underwater at zoos nationwide. Plus the wild true story of the 1910 bill that almost changed that.
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Hippo vs Gorilla: Size, Strength, and Who Would Win
Last Updated on September 21, 2026 by Jorge Bastos The silverback gorilla is the strongest land animal on Earth relative to its body weight. It can lift up to 815 kg — objects heavier than a grand piano — with the sustained pulling force of its upper body alone. Its bite force of 1,300 PSI…
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How Fast Can Hippos Run? On Land, Water, and What to Do If One Charges
Hippos can run up to 30 km/h (19 mph) on land — faster than most humans. Here’s how they move, how long they can sustain it, and what to do if one charges.
The hippopotamus is Vulnerable — and declining
Approximately 115,000 to 130,000 remain in the wild. Habitat loss, poaching and climate change are accelerating the decline.