The Wild Reason Hippos Flick Their Feces

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.