Dangerous Creatures: Hippopotamus

(Africa)

   Hippos usually come out of the water at night to graze, staying close to the riverbank. Mothers guard their babies ferociously.
   Look at that mouth! Those teeth! Although they’re not meat-eaters, hippos are among the most dangerous animals in Africa – if provoked.
   Hippos spend a lot of time underwater, even giving birth to their babies there.
   You can see many types of animals at a waterhole. But you’d better keep your distance!
   Finding enough to eat can sometimes be a challenge for these huge herbivores.
   Hippos in a waterhole are like the tip of an iceberg, in the sense that there may be many more hidden beneath the water’s surface.
   Video: These peaceful-looking hippos are covered with scars. And here’s the reason: those long, sharp teeth. Fighting, splashing and biting are common events in a hippo herd.
   Advice: Hippos spend most of their day sleeping or resting in water. Look for ears and nostrils at the surface before paddling into an area. If you see any, keep your distance. Hippos will charge, and they aren’t slow coaches!

Next: A hippopotamus is just one of a wide variety of animals you could see at an African waterhole.