See the Moment a Rhino Quickly Puts It In Reverse When a Giant Hippo Charges

Here we see some confrontation at the watering hole. It’s not unusual for squabbles to break out at these locations – both within and between species. Animals gather together at the water’s edge and are perhaps a little closer to each other than they feel comfortable with. In the below clip, we get to see an angry hippo driving away a rhino by baring its sharp teeth. We don’t blame the rhino for running away.

Watch The Incredible Footage Below!

What Do Rhinos and Hippos Have in Common?

At first glance, these two animals look pretty similar. They both have heavy and stocky bodies with short legs. They both inhabit areas of Africa but whilst the hippo spends most of its time in or around water, (they are semi-aquatic) the rhino tends to be more land-based. Nevertheless, rhinos are often seen rolling around in mud to give themselves a ‘mud coat’. This cools them down and protects their skin from insects. Asian rhinos are great swimmers but the same cannot be said for their African cousins. Surprisingly, hippos cannot swim either! Their bodies are too dense to even float – they walk along the bottom of the river.

When it comes to diet, they are both primarily herbivores. Rhinos eat grass, shrubs, trees, and bark. Hippos eat mainly grass but they have been observed feeding on carcasses and even on carcasses of other hippos! Consequently, they are described as facultative carnivores.

Who Normally Wins a Fight: Rhino or Hippo?

This very much depends on the size and health status of the two animals. They are reasonably evenly matched and most of the time ignore each other. Hippos are not known to attack on land and are much more aggressive in the water. However, as we see here, hippos can be aggressively territorial, especially when it comes to protecting their young, and the rhino finds itself on the wrong side of a hippo’s temper. However, armed with an intimidating horn, most rhinos can defend themselves against a hippo.  

There are reports of a furious hippo killing a rhino but this poor creature had been dehorned to protect it from human poachers. Both rhino horns and hippo teeth are highly valued in some cultures.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Kirill Skorobogatko/Shutterstock.com