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Hippopotamus
Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) belong to the animals that live both on land and in water. During the day they live mainly in the water, at night they come on land to graze.
Discover in real lifeHabitat:
rivers and lakes south of the Sahara Desert
Diet:
various grasses
Age:
up to 45 years old
Weight:
♀ 1350 to 2500 kg ♂ 1500 to 3200 kg
Number of young:
1 young
Gestation period:
8 months
To be seen:
along the walking safari
IUCN status:
vulnerable
EEP:
Yes
About the hippopotamus
The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is an impressive mammal that lives in East Africa, where it combines water and grassland. During the day, the animal stays in shallow water to cool off and protect itself from the sun. at night, the hippo seeks grass on land, eating up to 60 pounds per night. Despite its appearance, a hippo can run as fast as 30 km per hour and is one of Africa's most dangerous animals. Hippos communicate through sounds above and below water. They live in water but cannot swim; they walk on the bottom. The species is classified as "vulnerable" because of hunting and habitat loss. Zoos play an important role in protection through international breeding programs and conservation projects.
Habitat and threats
Hippos live in and around rivers, lakes and swamps in sub-Saharan Africa. They spend most of the day in the water to cool off and protect their sensitive skin from the bright sun. at night, they leave the water to graze on land, sometimes up to ten kilometers away.
Although hippos are still found in large parts of Africa, their habitat is shrinking. Due to drought, agriculture and the construction of dams, more and more wetlands are disappearing. Hippos are also hunted for their meat and ivory, which comes from their large canines. Consequently, the species is listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List.
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Species conservation in the wild
Did you know that more than4,000 animal speciesare threatened with extinction? Beekse Bergen works with about 325 European zoos to protect and conserve these species. We form the EAZA: the European Zoo Association. Through management programs (EEPs), together we ensure healthy reserve populations of species.
The hippos at Beekse Bergen are also part of an EEP. Each EEP has a coordinator who maintains a studbook of species data and manages the population in zoos. This means that the coordinator, together with a committee, gives advice on which animals are allowed to have offspring together and whether animals need to move to another zoo to do so. The chance of healthy offspring and thus keeping the species alive is greatest this way. On the signs in Beekse Bergen you can recognize animals with an EEP by the logo of a rhino and her calf.
More about Stichting Wildlife