Why Hippos Are Africa's Most Dangerous Animal

Hippopotamus with its mouth open in the water — A hippopotamus. Despite the calm look, it is one of Africa’s most dangerous large animals. Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim — CC BY-SA 4.0

Hippos kill more people in Africa than any other large mammal, yet they eat grass. The danger comes from territory, half-metre teeth, and the fact that a river is also a road.

Hippos grouped in a river — Hippos spend the day in water and graze on land at night. Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim — CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photography credits: Muhammad Mahdi Karim (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons