Hippopotamuses are nocturnal feeders, emerging from their pools at dusk and feeding in the cool, moist night air. These large herbivores follow the same paths each night and graze by cutting grasses with their broad lips. At dawn, they return to the water where they spend most of the day. If the weather is suitable hippopotamuses will also bask in the sun on land or in mud wallows. Males weigh up to 3 tonnes and females up to 1.4 tonnes.

Hippopotamuses are aggressive, unpredictable and easily enraged. Females are social, living in groups and helping look after each other’s calves. Males are fiercely territorial and are more innately aggressive than other species. They mark their territory by flicking their tails while defecating, spreading their scent as far as possible. Males fight over females during breeding season, and over water space constantly.

Hippopotamuses, especially the males, have large ivory tusks jutting upwards from their lower jaw. These are fighting teeth, while teeth for grinding food are located at the back of the jaws.

OUR HIPPOS

Harry
Harold (Harry) was born in 1978. He is the resident male or ‘bull' hippo. A very relaxed and laid back character who likes to just bob around in his pond or sunbake on his beach while he snoozes in the warm sunshine.

Primrose
Born in 1990, Primrose is the largest of the three females in the main pond, and mother to Tulip and Lotus. She is very polite and enjoys chin rubs from her keepers.

Brindabella
Born in 1990, Brindabella lives in the middle pond, likes to have things her own way and at feed times, will often bang on her gate to let the keepers know she wants to be let in.

Tulip
Born in 2003. Tulip is the second largest of the three females in the main pond. She is very curious about anything going on in the area, likes to interact with the keepers, and is generally very playful. She is going through the ‘terrible teen' stage and she is often seen play-sparring with her younger sister Lotus.

Lotus
Born in 2008, Lotus has recently developed quite a bit of confidence and now enjoys interacting with the keepers and she also spends a lot of time play-sparring with older sister Tulip.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The hippopotamus’ closest living relatives are whales and dolphins
• Hippopotamus are virtually hairless and have a thin top layer of skin, so moisture loss in dry air is greater than for other animals. Staying in water prevents dehydration
• They can run at speeds of 30km per hour, but only for very short bursts
• Hippopotamuses ooze a pinkish fluid when they are in the sun which acts as a sunscreen