The life of a hippopotamus is a boiling cauldron of hatred and fear (8 photos)
If we call the lion the king of beasts, then the hippopotamus should be called nothing less than the tyrant of Africa. After all, he has all the habits of a stereotypical dictator. In any situation, the hippopotamus primarily relies on its physical strength. And no wonder. 
An adult hippopotamus can die either from old age or from its own stupidity, because it is the third largest land mammal on the planet. 1.5 tons of weight, up to 5 meters in length and a huge fanged mouth, specially created for battles. 
As you understand, when eating grass there is no need to open the mouth 180°. In fact, their jaw is a weapon of intimidation.
Like any other dictator, the hippopotamus has its own domains, and quite extensive ones. The rivers, lakes and mangrove swamps of sub-Saharan Africa are his domain. Water conceals and facilitates the movements of the heavy giant - it easily accelerates to 8-13 km/h. For comparison: passenger ships sail at a speed of 10-12 km/h. The only one who can do anything against a hippopotamus in the water is the Nile crocodile. And he hunts exclusively young animals. And these, by the way, are predatory reptiles up to 6 meters long! 
You've come to the wrong area, scaly bag!
Yes, the hippopotamus is the master of African waters, but this does not mean at all that the giant is defenseless on land. Impenetrable skin 4 centimeters thick, relentless strength, a mouth with fangs up to half a meter and... speed. Despite its weight and dimensions, the hippopotamus accelerates on land to 40 km/h! Even a pride of lions cannot stand against this - the hippopotamus will scatter them like little kittens. 
Is that all you can do, kitty?
But where does hippopotamus have such anger? They are ordinary herbivores, feeding on aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation. I understand that all big vegetarians are tough guys. But hippos drive predators out of their territory at every opportunity and attack people even when they have no reason for aggression. 
In their rage, hippos sometimes go too far.
But the whole point is that external aggression is nothing compared to internal aggression. Thick skin, huge muscles and a mouth with fighting fangs are needed not so much for protection as for sorting out relationships within the herd. And the reason for all these internal graters is simple to the point of banality: reproduction. 
Sanya, scratch your chin, otherwise I can’t reach it!
Males regularly fight and test each other’s strength: only one of them, the largest and strongest, will become the head and have access to all the females. Moreover, the struggle does not stop even after the coveted title of alpha is taken. Now the male needs to increase his territory and the number of females under his control, and take them away from other leaders. 
The only animals that hippos always and unquestioningly respect are voloklyuis. They cleanse the skin of animals from parasites. If you quarrel with such people, you will become overgrown with ticks.
Females also have to be fully armed and alert. Half-crazed males pumped up with hormones in the heat of battle easily crush even their own children. We have to protect the offspring with all the fury that a frightened mother is capable of. 
So small, but he already wants to make you a sausage.
So it turns out that the hippo community is a boiling cauldron of hatred, suspicion and fear. Periodically, the liquid in it begins to boil so much that it bursts out and burns everyone around, from lions to people.
