A baby common hippo named Hula takes its first swim at the Zoological Society of London’s Whipsnade Zoo. Photo courtesy of ZSL.
Common hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius) survive throughout sub-Saharan Africa, though they once roamed as far as Egypt along the Nile River.
Not usually thought of as an endangered species, hippos are in fact listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. Hippos are threatened by habitat loss and hunting, both for meat and ivory, which is found in their teeth. Over the last decade alone the population is thought to have fallen by 7-20 percent. Most populations are now found only in protected areas.
The name ‘hippopotamus’ comes from Ancient Greek, meaning ‘river horse’.
Baby Hula with mom, Lola. Photo courtesy of ZSL.
Baby Hula with mom, Lola. Photo courtesy of ZSL.