This Hippo Sneaks Up On a Pride of Lions And Leaps Out of the Water

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One of the fondest memories we may have of childhood games is playing hide and seek. There’s just something about the thrill of hiding and then running from the one who is seeking you out. However, in the wild, a game of hide and seek can end in death. And let’s just say these lions in the video above were not too happy this hippo found them out.

Lion Pride At the River

The YouTube video clip at the top of this blog post takes us to Africa. A lion pride is spotted at the river. The Latest Sightings YouTube page shared this video on their platform. They regularly post videos of animals such as buffalo, Nile crocodiles, antelope, wildebeest, hyenas, African wild dogs, and cheetahs. 

Hippo Scares Lion Pride Away

At the start of the video, we see a lion pride has come to this river. They are there to drink, get some shade, and cool off from Africa’s hot temperatures. According to Arizona State University, the hottest ever recorded in Africa was 131°F in 1931. So, with temperatures like these, who can blame these lions for needing some shade?

However, they should have chosen their cooling spot more wisely. Because we immediately see a massive hippo appear, seemingly out of nowhere. He’s not too happy that these lions are invading his territory.

According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, “Hippos are highly territorial creatures, known to defend their habitats from intruders.” As a defender of his territory, this hippo whips out of the water and charges straight towards these lions. Hippos are able to run up to 30 miles per hour. The lions immediately jumped up and ran off. They didn’t want to have any beef with this angry hippo. 

How Painful Is a Hippo Bite?

The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is a fierce predator that animals in Africa know not to mess with. And should you ever find yourself on an African safari, do not approach a hippo! Unlike the adorable zoo displays of hippos, this is indeed not what they are. These massive animals weigh up to 10,000 pounds and are over 16 feet in length. 

The National Library of Medicine shares a hippo’s “mouth is 50 cm wide and can open 150°; it is equipped with very sharp triangular lower canines each measuring 30–50 cm.” With a mouth like this, it’s no surprise that a hippo’s bite force is 1,800 PSI (pounds per square inch.)

Taking the aggressive nature of hippos, their size, and their bite force, they are more than capable of killing a human. So, a hippo bite could not just categorized as painful but rather deadly.