World Hippo Day (15 February 2022)
To mark this year’s World Hippo Day on 15th February, we’re
diving in at the deep end with these humongous hoofed mammals, which are
considered to be one of the most dangerous African mammals on the planet.
1) TREMENDOUS TUSKS
The teeth at the front of a hippo’s mouth are actually
tusks. Hippos, however, are herbivore – which means that they don’t eat meat –
and can get through 68kg of grass in one feeding. These razor-sharp tusks are
instead used to ward off and, in some cases, fight anything they deem to be a
threat, including other male hippos and even humans.
2) SPEEDY SEMI-AQUATIC MAMMAL
Despite being the second largest land mammal on the planet,
with males weighing up to a staggering 3,600kg, and spending the majority of
their time in the water, hippos have the ability to run at speeds of 30km/h.
That’s faster than most humans!
3) HIPPOS AND WHALES ARE RELATED
It’s easy to assume that hippos would be related to
elephants and rhinos. However, DNA evidence has shown that hippos don’t
actually have any land-living relatives. Instead, their closest relatives are
whales. Based on fossil records, both species are connected to land-dwelling
mammals that roamed the Earth 52-47 million years ago.
4) SLIMY SUNCREAM
Being out in the African sun all day can take a toll on an
animal's skin. Hippos have unique glands in their skin, which secrete a kind of
slime that turns reddish-orange when exposed to air. This oily fluid contains
pigments that work just like suncream, protecting the mammal from the harmful
rays that cause sunburn.
5) FAMILY LIFE
Hippos tend to live in groups of up to 20 individuals, known
as a herd. This is led by one dominant male, who is very protective of his
group of females and their young. Female hippos, known as cows, give birth to a
single calf every two years. It’s important that the young calf and mother stay
close to the rest of the herd for protection from animals such as crocodiles,
lions and hyenas, which prey on the young hippos.
WORLD HIPPO DAY
World Hippo Day is celebrated every year on the 15th
February. Although its origins are unknown, as with many of the animal
awareness days we celebrate throughout the year, many people around the world
take this as an opportunity to learn more about the hippopotamus.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
has classified the hippopotamus as Vulnerable, which means it is susceptible to
extinction, because its population is in decline.
Sadly, hippos are at risk from humans who kill them for a number of reasons, including to lower the chance of human-wildlife conflict, for food, and for their ivory tusks. Also, with the growth of the human population, hippos are suffering from habitat loss as settlements, roads and agricultural production sites are being set up on areas that were once these mammals’ homes.
Source: https://www.ecokidsplanet.co.uk/blogs/news/world-hippo-day-five-top-facts
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