Weighing as much as a small elephant on a vegan diet, the hippopotamus redefines heavyweight herbivores. Africa’s riverine icon, replicated in Patna’s zoo, submerges effortlessly, breathing through strategically placed orifices.
Pig relatives in disguise, they stretch 14 feet, stand 5 feet high on nailed feet. High-mounted senses defy full immersion, sealing against floods. Dusk grazing marathons fuel their mass—50 kg nightly—followed by watery retreats.
Speed demons at 48 km/h, their armor-plated hides ooze protective pink oil, historically gem-polishing tools. Sparse fur belies robust physiology.
Dark clouds gather: Vulnerable commons and Endangered pygmies suffer from vanishing wetlands, poacher greed for tusks and skins. IUCN strategies pivot on habitat restoration, anti-poaching patrols.
Ecologically, hippos are linchpins. They crop weeds, stir nutrients, host parasites for fish—rivers thrive or falter with them. Zoos amplify awareness, urging global action to sustain these ecosystem engineers.