For a land mammal, hippos spend a significantly long time submerged in water – 16 hours a day to be precise. They weigh up to 1 800 kilograms and are unable to swim, so it might seem easier to stay on land. Yet hippos are considered amphibious, and even give birth to their young underwater.
Their reasons are simple. Hippos have extremely sensitive skin and are prone to dehydration and sunburn. They rely on a red, oily fluid which their body secretes and that acts as a natural sunscreen, skin moisturiser, and antibiotic. Remaining underwater offers them further protection from the harsh African sun. We dive into how these enormous animals stay afloat, despite their size.
Up Next in Season 1
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Leopards
No safari is complete without spotting a leopard lounging atop a tree branch. Climbing is a tactical move to keep themselves high on the food chain. Leopards carry prey up to three times their body weight, dragging them metres above the ground with effortless agility. In the trees, they can feast...
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Chimpanzees
Chimpanzees are highly social animals, native to the tropical forests of central and west Africa. They’re arguably the world's smartest animal, and share over 98% of their genetic blueprint with humans. Because of this, many of them were plucked out of their tropical havens and placed in laborato...
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Man Who Walks With Cheetahs
Cheetahs are the fastest animals on Earth. They’re built for speed and stealth. They can go days without eating, then take down an impala and devour it within a matter of hours. A human would stand no chance in the presence of this big cat. Except Kim Wolhuter – the man who walks among cheetahs. ...
