A huge, semi-aquatic grazer that spends its days in African rivers and lakes and comes out at night to feed. Its closest living relatives are whales and dolphins.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?No, herbivore
Dangerous?Yes
Aggressive and unpredictable, and counted among the most dangerous animals in the world.
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Night
Stays in water or mud to keep cool by day, then comes out at dusk to graze.
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inAfrica
HabitatRivers & lakes, Grassland
ColoursGrey, Pink
SizeHuge
Length2.9–5 m including the tail
Height1.3–1.65 m at the shoulder
WeightAbout 1,300–1,500 kg on average
Legs4
Covered inSkin
Lives ingroups
Lives for40–50 years
SwimsDebatable
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Rivers, lakes and swamps of sub-Saharan Africa, with grassland nearby to graze.
- What it eats
- Almost entirely grass: about 40 kg a night, gathered on walks of 3–5 km from the water.
- Conservation
- Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)
Did you know
Kills more people a year than lions, leopards and crocodiles.
Often confused with
Sources
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