On World Hippopotamus Day
- Communication
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
On World Hippopotamus Day, we celebrate one of Africa’s most iconic yet misunderstood giants: the hippopotamus. Massive, barrel-shaped, and often seen half-submerged in rivers and lakes, the common hippopotamus is both a symbol of the continent’s wild waters and a powerful guardian of freshwater ecosystems. In the wetlands and river systems of Upemba National Park, the presence of hippos is more than a spectacle—it is a sign of ecological vitality.
The common hippopotamus can measure up to 1.5 meters at the shoulder. Females typically reach two to three meters in length and weigh between one and two tons, while males can grow to nearly four meters long and weigh over three tons. With a life expectancy of around forty years, these impressive mammals are among the largest land animals on Earth, despite spending much of their time in water.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the hippopotamus is a fully protected species. It is strictly prohibited to kill, capture, chase, disturb, or harm hippos without a scientific permit issued by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. This legal protection reflects not only their ecological importance but also their vulnerability in a rapidly changing landscape.
Hippos depend on two closely connected habitats. By day, they rest in freshwater rivers, lakes, and marshes, where shallow waters protect their sensitive skin from the harsh African sun. Only their eyes, ears, and nostrils remain visible above the surface – perfectly adapted for breathing and keeping watch. By night, they leave the water and travel onto land, sometimes walking several kilometers in search of fresh grass. An adult can consume between 30 and 40 kilograms of vegetation in a single night.
Their social life is equally fascinating. In water, hippos gather in groups—sometimes more than ten individuals – often dominated by a territorial male who defends his stretch of river. Females and young remain in tightly bonded groups. Communication happens through deep grunts and vocalizations that travel surprisingly far across water. Though they may appear calm and even placid, hippos are among Africa’s most dangerous animals when defending their territory or young, reacting with extraordinary speed and force when they feel threatened.
Beyond their size and strength, hippos play a critical ecological role. As they graze on land and return to water, they transport nutrients between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Their dung fertilizes rivers and wetlands, supporting fish and other aquatic life. The trails they create during their nightly movements become pathways used by other species. In many ways, hippos are ecological engineers. Their presence often indicates healthy water systems and productive grazing lands; their disappearance can signal environmental decline.
Yet hippopotamuses face mounting threats. Habitat loss – through wetland drainage, river modification, and pollution – reduces the freshwater systems they rely on. Expanding agriculture and settlements increases the risk of human–hippo conflict, especially when hippos enter fields in search of food. Poaching for meat and ivory-like teeth further pressures already vulnerable populations.
Protecting hippos means protecting water. It requires safeguarding wetlands from degradation, restoring riverbanks, controlling pollution, and maintaining ecological corridors that allow wildlife to move without encroaching on human settlements. In landscapes like Upemba, where wetlands form part of the greater Congo Basin system, conserving hippos is inseparable from conserving entire watersheds and the communities that depend on them.
On this World Hippopotamus Day, let us look beyond the imposing silhouette rising from the river’s surface. The hippopotamus is not only a giant of Africa’s waters but also a keystone of ecological balance. Its survival depends on our commitment to coexistence, sound environmental governance, and the long-term protection of the wetlands that sustain life for all.
Video: Courtesy, Upemba National Park - 2025
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