Are hippos dangerous and do they eat humans? What to know.
Surprisingly, the most dangerous animal in the world are mosquitoes. Although these tiny animals may just seem like a summer nuisance, they are very dangerous,killing up to one million people each year and spreading diseases including Zika and Malaria.
Some other animals among the most dangerous are snakes, wolves and bears, according to Far and Wide. But what about hippos? While hippos may seem cute, especially adorable baby hippos, there may be more you should know about the danger they could pose.
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Are hippos dangerous?
According to AZ Animals, hippos are some of the most dangerous land animals, killing around 500 humans in Africa every year. In comparison to other animals on Earth, the number of deaths caused by hippos is “shockingly large,” AZ Animals says.
Do hippos eat humans?
Hippos do not eat humans, but they will attack people who infringe on their territory. While on land, hippos are not territorial, but they are territorial in water. Hippos spend most of their time submerged in water in order to keep them cool. This can be dangerous to people on boats who don't see a hippo and venture into their territory.
Generally, hippos stay in areas on rivers that are 55-110 yards off shore, and they will patrol these areas to make sure nothing is infringing on their territory, according to AZ Animals.
Why are hippos so dangerous?
Two features make hippos dangerous: their tusks and their size.
Hippos have tusks in the front of their mouths that can grow to be over a foot long. These sharp tusks never stop growing and are usually used by hippos to fight other males.
Additionally, coming in at over 3,000 pounds on average even a bump from a hippo can be dangerous, AZ Animal says.
Although they may not be territorial on land, getting close to a hippo on land is still not a good idea. While humans can run from six to eight miles per hour,hippos in some cases can run up to 30 miles an hour, according to the St. Louis Zoo.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are hippos dangerous ? And if so, why? What to know.
