Hippos Use Giant Jaws and Tusks to Fight for Territory

You do not want to get on a hippopotamus’s bad side — it could be the last thing you do! These huge mammals can become vicious if provoked, and even though they haven’t been trained in martial arts, they are natural fighters. A viral video of two hippos facing off shows their aggressive nature up close, and it proves why they are among the most dangerous animals in Africa.

Fight With Their Mouths

Two hippos face each other inside a private camp at Kruger National Park in South Africa in a video taken by Rory Friedman and shared by the YouTube Account Capture the Wild. At first, the hippos are behind a fence. One approaches the other, causing the second hippo to back up and then run around the fence in an attempt to escape. The first hippo quickly follows, stopping only when it reaches a bank near the water, close to a group of people in a gazebo.

When the hippos back up again, they spread their massive jaws wide and lock them together. One hippo forces the other to retreat. After they break apart, the hippo that was backing up charges forward, attacking with its mouth still open wide. After a few seconds of tilting their heads and maneuvering their mouths, the hippos pause and close their jaws. One hippo quickly defecates and begins to walk away, but the other charges at it again. They resume fighting, using their mouths and sharp tusks. The display is impressive and likely terrifying for the people nearby.

Big Heads

These semi-aquatic mammals are native to sub-Saharan Africa and can grow between 6.5 and 16.5 feet long, weighing between 2,200 and 9,900 pounds. They are one of the largest animals in Africa, and when they get aggressive, it’s wise to get out of their way. Their jaws are one of their most distinctive features, with two lower tusks that can grow up to 20 inches long.

A hippo’s head accounts for approximately one-third of its total body weight, and each tusk can weigh up to 6 pounds. Their jaws can also open up to 150 degrees, which gives them an advantage during tussles with other animals. When their mouths are fully open, they can measure up to four feet long! When they bite down, their bite force is estimated to be around 1,800 psi. Considering the surface area of their mouths, a hippo’s bite is hundreds of times stronger than a human’s. Hippos can also run up to 19-20 miles per hour, giving them another advantage over predators.

Fighting Style

When it comes to fighting, male hippos use their canines to battle other hippos. This behavior, called “gaping” according to the San Diego Zoo, is used to size up rivals. The smaller or less dominant male will typically back away when pursued by a larger hippo, as seen in the video. They will slash with their tusks or swing their heads when fighting, sometimes resulting in death.

When confronted by other animals, hippos will display aggression by yawning, shaking their heads, rearing up, grunting or roaring, and chasing. They mainly engage in mouth fighting with other hippos, although they may kill people if they feel threatened. Female hippos, on the other hand, fight differently. Unlike the jaw-to-jaw battles between males, a female hippo protects her young from aggressive males by attacking them from the side, where males are more vulnerable.

Hippos Are Aggressive Creatures

Both male and female hippopotamuses are known to be aggressive and unpredictable. Typically, hippos live in small herds composed of 10 to 20 females and calves, with one dominant male who guards the herd from intruders and rival males. The leader won’t hesitate to fight other males with its massive jaws, which can cause deadly injuries.  

Although hippos may have a temper, they don’t actually use their huge jaws to attack other mammals for food. Hippos are herbivores and eat mostly grass, grains, and flowers. It may seem surprising that such a large animal can survive on a light diet like this, but hippos conserve energy by spending most of the day floating in water. Other animals will sometimes try to attack hippos, however. These typically include lions, hyenas, and crocodiles. Humans may also threaten hippos by hunting them for meat and ivory teeth. And hippos fight back. Approximately 500 people die every year in Africa due to hippopotamus attacks. Although you are unlikely to encounter a hippo in everyday life, it’s still wise to keep your distance if you ever do.