Territorial Hippos Throw a Tantrum and Charge at Zebras Crossing Their River

Big Mean Hippos Bully a Herd of Zebras and Don’t Let Them Cross!

In the exciting and kind of hilarious video at the top of the page, two hippos decide to be bullies! Their victims? A herd of innocent zebras just trying to cross from one side of a river to another! As the video begins, the camera is centered on a lone zebra wading into the water, the brave leader! The camera pans out and towards the shore to show the herd begins following the trend-setter. The zebras begin wading across the shallow river in a single file line. Then the camera zooms out a bit further to reveal the video’s antagonists.

The line of zebras has to stop; they inspect the opposite shore of the river and see that it’s very steep! All the while, the huge hippos are still looking for someone to beat up on. Just as the first zebra to cross reaches the opposite shore, the hippos charge at those remaining in the water. With one of the hippos being smaller than the other, it’s fair to assume this is a mother and calf. In that case, the aggressive behavior may be due to protectiveness.

As the hippos continue to push into the line of zebras, those remaining in the water sprint around the hippos to the other side. As the herd begins rushing across the river behind the two hippos, it’s now their time to be intimidated away! Just as it seems the herd is in the clear, a crocodile can be seen sneaking up to the line. But it’s just too late, missing the last zebra by inches, as they successfully cross and scale the steep opposing bank!

Does the Aggressive Nature of Hippos Make Them a Threat to Humans?

Hippos, as the zebras in the video at the top of the page discover, have a very aggressive nature, regardless of who towards. The huge creatures have evolved to become capable of instant fury, but this aggressiveness comes with its advantages and disadvantages. Theories suggest that hippos’ territorial behavior is rooted in establishing dominance and protecting aquatic territories, and therefore resources. This aggression serves as more than anything a defense mechanism, deterring potential threats and challenges to maintain social structures.

The sheer size and strength of hippos make an attack a death sentence for most species, offering them an advantage in confrontations. However, their aggressiveness can pose a significant danger to humans, which puts a target on their back. This is especially true in areas where human activities intersect with hippo territories, triggering their aggression. Instances of human encounters with aggressive hippos are actually the most common cause of human lethality due to large land mammals. That puts them above lions, tigers, bears, and every other classic predator species!

Fishing communities and riverside settlements often face the risk of hippo attacks, particularly during mating seasons when males are always ready to scrap. Equally dangerous is when hippo mothers perceive a threat to their offspring. Despite their seemingly docile appearances and ‘cuddly’ cartoon depictions, hippos can turn aggressive and charge at boats, fishermen or swimmers in an instant. The frequency of these tragic instances highlights the conflicts between humans and hippos. And more than anything, shows a need for some new strategies towards human activity within their habitats.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © 1001slide/iStock via Getty Images