Hippos, short for hippopotamuses, are incredible animals that live in Africa. They are easy to spot because of their big, round bodies, short legs, and huge mouths with big teeth. Hippos are really special and have fascinated people for a long time.
Hippos are huge! They can grow up to 14 feet long, which is about the size of a small car. They are the third heaviest land animals, right after rhinos and elephants. Male hippos, called bulls, can weigh as much as 4,000 pounds. Even though they are so big, hippos don’t have much hair. Their skin is very thick, about 2 inches, which helps protect them from other animals.
Hippos love water and spend most of their time in rivers, lakes, and swamps in Africa. They like shallow water where they can stand and keep their heads above the surface. Their eyes, ears, and noses are on top of their heads, so they can see, hear, and breathe while mostly underwater. Hippos even have their babies, called calves, in the water. Baby hippos are born weighing less than 100 pounds and stay close to their moms for safety.
Hippos are plant-eaters, or herbivores. They mostly eat grass and come out of the water at night to munch on it. A hippo can eat about 88 pounds of grass in one night! They also have a special way to protect their skin from the sun. They make a natural sunscreen that keeps them from getting sunburned.
Even though hippos might look calm, they can be very dangerous. They have big teeth that can grow up to 20 inches long and are very sharp. Hippos can run fast, up to 19 miles per hour, which is surprising for such big animals. They are very protective of their babies and their territory, and they can be aggressive if they feel threatened.
In the past, hippos lived all over Africa, but now there are fewer places for them because of farming and building. People also hunt hippos for their meat and teeth. Because of these threats, hippos are considered vulnerable, which means they need help to survive. People are working to protect hippos by creating safe places for them to live and helping people and hippos get along better.
Hippos are amazing animals that are important to their environment. By learning about them and helping to protect them, we can make sure they are around for many years to come. Let’s all do our part to keep these wonderful creatures safe!
Hippo Habitat Exploration: Take a walk in your local park or garden and observe the different types of water bodies you see, like ponds or streams. Imagine if hippos lived there. Discuss with a friend or family member how the water bodies in your area are similar or different from the rivers and lakes where hippos live in Africa. Draw a picture of a hippo in its natural habitat and share what you learned about their homes.
Hippo Diet Detective: Hippos eat a lot of grass! Go on a “grass hunt” in your backyard or a nearby park. Collect different types of grass and leaves you find (make sure they are safe to touch and not harmful). Compare the sizes, shapes, and colors. Discuss how much grass a hippo might need to eat in one night and why they might need so much food. Create a collage using the grass and leaves you collected to show what a hippo’s meal might look like.
Hippo Safety Role Play: Hippos can be dangerous if they feel threatened. With a friend or family member, role-play a scenario where you are a hippo and someone else is a visitor to your river. Practice how to safely observe a hippo without disturbing it. Discuss why it’s important to respect animals’ space and how we can help protect hippos by being careful when we are near their habitats.
