Do You Ever Wonder Why Hippos Spray Their Poo All Over the Place?

Hippos are known for being the most aggressive animals in Africa, but did you know they are also aggressive poopers?

Transcript

00:00Hippos might be cute safari mammals, but they're actually really, really dangerous.

00:08In fact, next to the mosquito, they're responsible for more human deaths in Africa every year than these guys, or even these.

00:14And they hate being bothered so much, even before they charge at a blazing 19 miles per hour.

00:19A new study reveals they have yet another mechanism for getting rid of those who invade their territory.

00:24They spray poo.

00:25Researchers traveled to the Maputo Special Reserve in Mozambique and recorded the sounds of hippos in various communities.

00:31They then played the sounds of local hippos, neighboring hippos, and stranger hippos back to each group.

00:37Finding that not only did playing all three sounds cause the hippos to mark their territory by spraying poo,

00:42but they did so in greater quantities when they heard the calls of strangers.

00:45This is an interesting find because it means they are less aggressive to their neighbors, not always a thing in the animal kingdom.

00:51And the research team notes it could help when relocating the animals.

00:54Priming communities on both sides of the transfer with the sounds of the other's calls,

00:58so as to acclimate them ahead of time, keeping the peace, and preventing any more of this.