Hippopotami of the species Hippopotamus amphibius (‘Hippos’), are widely distributed over Sub-Saharan African savannah biomes. They were declared a ‘vulnerable’ species, as over the last 10 years the population declined between 7 – 20%. In total, there are about 130,000 – 140,000 animals left in 2022. And all of the hippos are dangerous on land.
They live in family groups, with the dominant male strongly defending his territory in water. On such occasions, and especially under confined conditions, human-hippopotamus interaction can get very serious for humans. Submerged hippos can rarely be seen and capsizing of boats happens often. And also wading fishermen checking their nets are highly vulnerable. Both of these accident scenarios lead to the second-highest number of human fatalities suffered by animals in Africa. Most fatalities occur through mosquitoes.
Three main types of animal trails in Southern Africa
On land, hippos have a home range which they mark with feces and urine, but typically do not defend. Hippos walk on land every evening for grazing and return sometimes in the morning. They always use the same exit-/entry point from and to the water. And they regularly use trails from this point to their preferred grazing area. These trails show two distinctive rows of parallel tracks – which are typical for hippos. See the picture above.
Besides hippo trails, there are two other types of communal animal trails. Trails regularly used by elephants are wider, flat trampled, and do not show these two rows of hippo tracks. And the third one is the so-called ‘mixed animal trails’. These are the trails used by antelopes and other animals, filled with small-hooved tracks, and often leading to water. Therefore a ‘hippo road’ can be spotted by an experienced person in the landscape.
Getting run down by a hippo
If in the morning a human uses this trail, and a hippo is spooked at his grazing area further inland, the hippo will take for sure his hippo trail back toward safety. If this human is in between the running hippo (regular speed abt. 17 km/h) and water on the hippo-trail, he will have to jump very fast off the track. Otherwise, he will get run over. Hippos are dangerous in this scenario.
Trying to defend an agricultural lot against hippos
Hippo walks in the evening to more juicier vegetables at a farmer’s garden, instead of munching grass on meadows. The farmer will defend his subsistence vegetable lot vigorously with whatever he has on hand. Which are very often only sticks or spears. Such confrontations are dangerous for both sides and farmers often are getting trampled or bitten.
Danger of female hippos with newborns
Some days before giving birth, pregnant female hippos will leave the herd. They look for a secluded place on land next to water. And there they will spend about two weeks completely separated from other hippos. This time serves to rear the newborn and imprint their characteristics on each other. So they never get lost from each other again. During all that time from leaving the herd, female hippos on land are dangerous and highly aggressive towards any intruder.
Meeting a displaced male hippo in the bush
This is the most dangerous scenario, as it happens regularly in the hippo country. And the location of this danger cannot be foreseen. It is the case when a dominant male hippo is getting defeated by a challenger. In nearly all cases the loser – the old and former dominant male – will be heavily injured after the fight. Open, gaping wounds over the whole body, and he has to leave ‘his’ water. He can’t go back into this water again. Therefore, he has to wander around to find a watery place, which is not already taken by another dominant male.
Very often he has to walk over hills to other valleys or wide savanna plains to find a new home. In the meantime, his wounds are getting infested. Carnivores will smell it and he is getting very itchy and aggressive to ward off those dangers. Often, they will lie down for a rest in the middle of the Bushveld. And if an unsuspecting human is coming around the corner – he will attack him for sure. This human would never have thought that he would meet a hippo in the middle of nowhere, far away from water. But it happens.
All four scenarios happen in real life. And it is not an evil character of hippos per se, but just circumstances. Either this big and fast-moving animal wants to defend himself or just wants to get back to safety.
Lessons learned why hippos are dangerous on land
- Don’t walk in the morning between deep, open water and grazing areas on hippo trails. Not only returning hippos are the danger, but also grazing buffaloes
- Stay away from reed beds and heavy vegetation near water. This could be the nursery of Mrs. Hippo and her child. Or a crocodile nest with a defending female croc. Or just a grumpy old Dagha-Boy (old Buffalo Bull). The likelihood of meeting one of these inhabitants there is very high.
- As a Guide or Back-up Guide on a trail, be always alert and observe all SOPs
