The blue whale and the African elephant are the only two mammals in the world that are larger than the hippopotamus. The word hippo translates to river horse in ancient Greek. The giant animal weighs a whopping 8,000 pounds. There is only one continent in the world you can find a hippo. That continent is Africa. Hippos are native to over 30 countries in Africa. These herbivores live up to 50 years in the wild. There are only two species of hippos on the planet. These include the common hippopotamus and the pygmy hippo.
Predators of the hippo include hyenas, lions, and crocodiles. Unfortunately, humans have also become a primary predator. While some hunt hippos for their meat, others hunt them for ivory canine teeth. The demand for hippo teeth escalated after the ban on the international trade of elephant ivory in 1989. Despite recent efforts to ban the trade of hippo teeth, the animal is classified as vulnerable. Through the years, the most significant decline in the hippo population has occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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