Hippopotamus Amphibius - Habitat

Hippopotamus Amphibius - Hippos and Man

Picture source: Lepidoptera © 1999-2000 Ralf Schmode

West Africa has been largely affected by humans, and there can be found only scattered groups of Hippopotamuses. Human activity has not yet considerably affected the water system, but what's more threatening for hippos is the sacrifice of grazing lands to cultivation. Loss of food has caused many species to either leave or perish.

People are well aware of hippos' aggressive disposition, and in many cases they strive to deal with them beforehand. Hippopotamuses also damage crops, which exacerbates the conflict and contributes to further confrontation. In some countries people hunt hippos for their tusks and meat.

Pygmy hippopotamus are much more vulnerable to attacks by humans. Their number has slumped dramatically over the last decades due to the clearance of forests. They are smaller than common hippos, and therefore are less dangerous for people. Although Pygmy Hippos are legally protected, unauthorized hunting does take place in the woods of Liberia, and this does aggravate the condition. Reintroduction of captive-bred hippopotamuses can prevent total extinction of the animal.

Hippopotamus Amphibius - Links

Picture source: Animal Diversity Web © 1995-2004 The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors

ADW: Hippopotamidae: Classification - Classification, description and taxonomy.

Animal Planet: Corwin's Carnival of Creatures - One subspecies, Hippopotamus amphibius tschadensis, is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN 1996 Redlist.

Chapter 3.2 - Action Plan - The common hippopotamus spends the day in water but emerges at night in order to graze on land, often several kilometers from water.

Ecology Photographic Hippopotamidae - Historically, hippos have been found throughout all of subsaharan Africa.

Garamba National Park - Hippopotami - Woodlands, interspersed with gallery forests along the river banks and the swampy depressions, protect four large mammals: the elephant, giraffe, hippopotamus and above all the white rhinoceros.

Genus of Hippopotamidae - Hippopotamuses - Information on taxonomy, ecology, habitat and conservation.

Hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius) - The hippo is found in West and East Central Africa.

Hippo: Africa's King of the River - The hippopotamus needs to live in a humid place and is strictly bound to water, where it spends the majority of its time.

Hippopotamidae - Pictures and descriptions of two species of Hippopotamus.

Hippopotamuses - Brief and comprehensive information on Hippopotami.

Hippopotamus - Hippopotamus amphibus Once numerous in all African rivers and streams with deep water, the hippo is now largely restricted.

Hippopotamus - The common hippopotamus is the second largest living land animal, only rivalled by the great Indian rhinoceros (the elephant is the largest).

Picture source: Natur-Lexikon com © 2002-2005 Uwe Walz

Hippopotamus - The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is a large, plant-eating African mammal.

Hippopotamus - Hippopotami - There are two kinds of hippopotamus, the common or river hippopotamus and the pygmy hippopotamus.

Hippopotamus Amphibius - Hippopotamuses - The hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal in the world although it lives in a wet environment.

Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius - Forestry Images: Forest Health, Natural Resources & Silviculture Images.

Hippoptamus - ABC-Kid.com - Collection of pictures and information on the Hippo.

Hutchinson Encyclopedia Article about Hippopotamus - The common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is found in Africa.

Stock Photograph of Hippopotamus with Open Mouth - Hippopotamus with Open Mouth (Hippopotamus amphibius) by Digital Vision.

The Hippopotamus - Hippopotamus Amphibius of Southern Africa - The Hippopotamus is characterised by its huge size, short, barrel-shaped body.