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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How Do Hippos Sleep?
Hippos sleep submerged underwater, surfacing to breathe every few minutes without ever waking up. Here’s how the reflex works — and what happens when a mother sleeps with her calf.
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Hippo vs Tiger: Size, Strength, and Who Would Win
Hippo vs tiger: the world’s largest cat against the third-largest land mammal. Full comparison of size, bite force, claws, and hunting ability — and a clear verdict.
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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.
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.