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 Hippopotamus



 [|The hippopotamus] or also known as hippopotamus amphibius is a large, plant-eating mammal but also eats fallen fruits & small injured animals. The hippo inhabits rivers and lakes i the sub-Saharan Africa i groups from 5 up to 30 hippos called a pod, herd, dale, or bloat. They can live in water, or go on land. Their specific gravity allows hippos to sink and walk or run along the bottom of a river.It uses water to keep itself hydrated and to carry out their life functions. During hot days the hippo uses water or mud to keep itself cool, child-birth and reproduction also take place in the water. The hippopotamus weighs about 1.5 tons, but can easily outrun any human, and can run up to 30 mph. The life-span of a hippo is about 40 to 50 years. The hippo is one of the most aggressive animals in the world, and is one of the most ferocious animals in Africa. Adult hippos are very aggressive toward crocodiles especially when baby hippos are around, because the crocodiles like to feed on young hippos. Their are about 125,000 to 150,000 hippos left throughout the sub-Saharan Africa. They are threatened by poachers for their meat and ivory canine teeth, and by habitat loss. Their are conservation efforts to help save hippos from becoming extinct, this organization is known as IUCN Status Survey.

[|Hippos]



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