Hippos in action

[Ann]

Hippos are usually photographed half-submerged and dozing peacefully in ponds or rivers but there is another side to these gigantic and very dangerous animals in that they kill a great number of people every year.
I had always wanted to photograph them in action and small boats on the Chobe river finally provided that opportunity.

A group of these animals had been dozing and rolling in black mud beside the Chobe but at sunset they decided to go back into the river.





These animals are mainly herbivorous and I had long wanted to get a close-up shot of one with his mouth full of grass:



He had seen us and was watching us intently but fortunately didn't charge as our outboard motor probably couldn't have outrun a 30 mph charge.

[Ian Watson]

Magnificent, Ann!

The third photograph shows a side of them that we rarely see in photographs.

[Øivind Tøien]

+1 !

[Gil Aegerter]

Incredible images of the ungainly ungulates!

[Bruno Schroder]

Great shots, Ann. Thanks for showing us this undocumented side of their behavior.
And unlike my seals, they don't look like they're made of clay…

[golunvolo]

In this photographs they look dangerous!

[Ann]

Thank you all for your most generous comments.

Eight of us had rented a houseboat on the Chobe for a week. It had a crew (who moved the boat to different locations for each night); it towed several small boats with outboard motors which we used to explore the river during the day; and it had a splendid girl who produced wonderful meals for us when we returned to the mother ship.

Late one night, when I was still up processing photographs and she had finished in her kitchen, she came over to look at my photographs. When we got to the Hippos, she shuddered and said: "I hate those animals".

She then explained that her grandfather had been fishing from the banks of the river when a Hippo suddenly emerged from its depths and ran at her Grandfather. He couldn't outrun the charge and the Hippo killed him. Hippos may look ungainly but they can move very quickly.

This shot shows a Hippo feeding — supposedly placidly:

[golunvolo]

This front view is imposing. What a strong presence.

[Hans_S]

Great work Ann!

What gives them that bad attitude? Is it just territoriality? I can't see them having too many natural predators.

[Thomas Stellwag]

This front view is imposing. What a strong presence.

+1

[Ann]

What gives them that bad attitude? Is it just territoriality? I can't see them having too many natural predators.

It does seem to be territorial because adult Hippos really have no predators — except humans who apparently do hunt them for meat.

There is a proverb in Africa which says "Do not get between a Hippo and water" but our cook's grandfather was attacked when he was between the water and land.

When they are wallowing in the river they seem so placid and docile but this appearances is somewhat misleading:

[Akira]

It does seem to be territorial because adult Hippos really have no predators — except humans who apparently do hunt them for meat.

There is a proverb in Africa which says "Do not get between a Hippo and water" but our cook's grandfather was attacked when he was between the water and land.

When they are wallowing in the river they seem so placid and docile but this appearances is somewhat misleading:

At the end of the day, wild animals are wild animals...  I would limit myself to enjoying amazing wildlife photographs like yours.

[Ann]

Akira:
Your comment is one which I will always treasure. Thank you.

[Jürgen Pfeiffer]

It does seem to be territorial because adult Hippos really have no predators — except humans who apparently do hunt them for meat.

There is a proverb in Africa which says "Do not get between a Hippo and water" but our cook's grandfather was attacked when he was between the water and land.

When they are wallowing in the river they seem so placid and docile but this appearances is somewhat misleading:

Ann, what you have written could not be better illustrated than with this photo. The hippopotamus really does look like the epitome of evil. A marvellous photo!

[Hugh_3170]

Ann, I too have enjoyed these five hippo photos very much. 

I agree that the last one, in Post #11, looks like pure evil!