Hobbies And Interests
Background
The hippopotamus is a large barrel-shaped amphibious mammal with an enormous mouth. Hippos can be up to 15 feet long and 5 feet high and weigh up to 8000 pounds. In the wild, hippos can live up to 20 to 40 years. Most are grey or brown. Their eyes, nostrils and ears are on the top of their head so they can rise to the surface for air while the rest of their body remains underwater.
Ecosystem
Hippos graze on the grasses that surround lakes and river banks, promoting the retention of the grasslands. They play an important role in the ecosystem, as they keep grasses short for other animals and create pathways to sources of water. Hippos defecate in the water; this action feeds the ecosystem by adding nutrients. Organisms feed on the dung, and then larger animals feed on those organisms.
Climate
Currently, hippos can be found in the East African countries of Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique. The very thin, hairless skin of the hippo can pose a problem for them in this arid climate. To cope with the intense African heat, hippos secrete an oil that keeps their skin moist and hydrated. Hippos spend up to 16 hours a day in the water or resting in mud; which regulates their body temperature. Hippos rise at night when it is cooler to feed on the grass at the water's edge.
Conservation
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) has classified the hippo as "vulnerable." The main threats to the hippo are the loss of their grazing lands by human settlement and illegal hunting. The hippo's decline in numbers puts their ecosystem at risk because other herbivores don't feed on the long grasses and organisms in the water need the nutrients from hippo's dung to feed on. Fortunately for the hippo population, they breed well in captivity. If their numbers in the wild continue to decline, captive-breeding programs should provide a viable alternative for the survival of the species.