By Yemi Olakitan
World Hippo Day is celebrated on February 15th each year to raise awareness about the hippopotamus and its conservation.
The hippopotamus is a semi-aquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa and is the third-largest land mammal after elephants and rhinos. Hippos are herbivores and spend most of their day in water to keep cool.
They are also great swimmers and can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes. Hippos are vulnerable to extinction due to poaching, loss of access to fresh water, mechanized farming, and urbanization.
World Hippo Day encourages people to take action to prevent their extinction by educating others, running conservation efforts, or donating to animal conservation organizations.
Celebrating World Hippo Day can involve visiting a zoo or safari park to see hippos up close, playing games like Hungry, Hungry Hippos, watching movies or documentaries featuring hippos, or creating hippo drawings.
A unique feature of hippos is their thick, hairless skin, which secretes a natural sunscreen, often referred to as “blood sweat,” to protect them from the sun’s harsh rays. This oily red secretion is not only a sunblock but also has antiseptic properties, helping to keep wounds clean and free from infection. This adaptation is crucial for their survival in the hot, sunny environments they inhabit.
Hippos are highly social animals, living in groups known as pods, bloats, or schools, which can consist of anywhere from 10 to 30 individuals, though larger groups of up to 100 hippos are not uncommon.
These groups are typically made up of females with their young and a few non-breeding males, with a dominant male leading the group. The dominant male has exclusive breeding rights within the group, and his authority is established and maintained through displays of strength and aggression.
The hippopotamus is native to sub-Saharan Africa, dwelling in rivers, lakes, and mangrove swamps. Despite their broad distribution, hippos face numerous threats that have led to declining numbers.
Habitat loss due to agriculture, human settlement, and industry is a significant factor. Additionally, hippos are poached for their meat and ivory (found in their teeth), further impacting their populations.
Currently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the hippo as Vulnerable, with estimates suggesting there are between 115,000 and 130,000 individuals left in the wild. This classification underscores the pressing need for effective conservation measures to prevent their slide toward endangerment.
According to the Zoological Society of London, the history of the hippo dates back to 7.5 million years ago, with ancestors that likely preceded them by 8 million years. Hippos are most closely related to whales, dolphins, and porpoises, and they have evolved to be semi-aquatic mammals.
The ancestors of the hippo in Europe and the British Isles went extinct, probably due to man-induced factors, and the same fate befell the species of hippos that inhabited North America. After being introduced to the U.S. in the late 1980s, only four hippos were found to be living in Columbia, and today, the hippo population in the U.S. is estimated to be about 100 animals.
Several organizations are dedicated to the conservation of hippos and their habitats. Some of the key organizations include: the IUCN SSC Hippo Specialist Group (HSG)
ZSL (Zoological Society of London), which has pioneered in situ conservation of pygmy hippos in Liberia African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), which strengthens and protects hippo habitats by providing funding and improving infrastructures of parks
These organizations work to ensure the long-term survival of hippos and their habitats, raise awareness about their conservation status, and support sustainable conservation and management of both species of hippos across their range.
Among the efforts aimed at preserving and protecting Hippo is the notable “Save the Hippos” campaign, which also marked the inception of World Hippo Day in 2016.
This campaign, along with others, highlights the concerted actions taken to ensure the protection and preservation of hippos across their natural habitats.
Anti-poaching measures, such as increased patrolling of protected areas and the implementation of stricter laws against poaching and ivory trade, are critical components of these efforts.
Additionally, habitat restoration projects seek to reclaim and protect natural habitats for hippos and other wildlife.
Community-based conservation is another vital strategy, involving local communities in conservation efforts and providing them with sustainable alternatives to hunting and habitat encroachment.
International cooperation is also essential, as the conservation of hippos requires cross-border efforts due to their habitat spanning multiple countries.
Conservationists are also employing innovative technologies to monitor hippo populations and their habitats. Satellite imagery, drone surveillance, and GPS tracking are tools that help gather data on hippo numbers, movements, and health, which is crucial for making informed conservation decisions, according to reports.
