ZBC 5IVE

Hippos live in a hierarchical society in which individuals constantly display their status to one another. Adult females with their successive offspring form the foundation of social units called pods, and occupy a home range on a stretch of a river or lake.

Mature males hold dominance in a restricted range and fierce, bloody clashes between rivals are commonplace.

Hippo pods tend to be sedentary during the dry season but move far and wide when rain fills seasonal water bodies.

Babies are born in shallow water but are able to swim immediately and suckle whilst completely submerged. Youngsters are playful for the first year of life and weaned at around eight months.