Fact : Hippos can't swim #WildWednesday

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Africa is home to astonishing evolution and natural feats. There are hundreds of weird animals in Africa when you really think about it.

©Johann Jurgens


After elephants, hippos are the largest land animals, weighing up to 4 tons. Unlike elephants, however, hippos spend their days in the water, which might make it seem silly to ask this question. 

Hippopotamuses love water, which is why the Greeks named them the “river horse.” Their method of travel is very simple - they walk underwater.They can’t even float or sink by controlling their breathing and body position. Once sunk, hippos don't swim back up to the surface: they walk along the bottom till they reach shallow water. 

Rather unusual for an animal that spends up to 16 hours a day submerged in rivers and lakes to keep their massive bodies cool under the hot African sun. They can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes. The closest living relatives to hippos are pigs, whales and dolphins, according to the San Diego Zoo.

Adult hippos move at speeds up to 8 km/h (5 mph) in water, so we are definitely not going to outswim them... Hippos coexist with a variety of large predators. Nile crocodiles, lions and spotted hyenas are known to prey on young hippos. However, due to their aggression and size, adult hippos are not usually preyed upon by other animals.

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