Mike Kirkman, the Head Ranger at Mala Mala Game Reserve observed and filmed this sighting near the Mala Mala Game Reserve airstrip. He told Latest Sightings that “everyone was more confused than anything else at this sighting”.
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He went on to say that it’s “not normal to see an interaction like this between any animal – never mind the 2nd and 3rd largest species!” The behavior of the hippo did indeed seem strange as it approached the rhino.
Unfortunately, “because of the strict rules around disclosing the locations of rhino sighting” Mike and his team couldn’t announce it to everyone, meaning they had a relatively uncrowded view of a very strange sighting.
Heavyweight Posturing
Under the shroud of darkness, the hippo approached a rhino as it was busy grazing, and then proceeded to follow it around. Whether it was surprised to see the hippo so far from the river, or just didn’t like having its space crowded, the rhino didn’t react positively.
The hippo did not seem to be acting particularly aggressively towards the rhino, but when it turned and backed away the hippo opened its mouth wide, showing its impressive array of teeth.
This kind of behavior is part of a dominance display on the part of the hippo, showing the rhino what it would have to deal with if it came to a fight. The rhino for its part was unfazed, and kept its head down and facing the hippo, showing off its own impressive horn.
Turning The Tables
The two didn’t come to blows, with the rhino eventually backing away and heading out to continue its grazing, but the hippo apparently was not satisfied with this resolution.
Hippos can be territorial around water, but tend not to be on land, making this one’s pursuit of the rhino strange. Mike said “when nature throws a curveball like this, as a guide – it is very difficult to explain”.
Eventually, the crash of rhinos get fed up with the behavior of the hippo, and instead of letting it chase them around, they turned to face it, and the tables turned.
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School Is In Session
The hippo’s display of its large teeth could only dissuade the rhinos so much as it wears their patience thin. It’s lucky hippos can move so fast on land as well as in the water, because this one had to start running.
The rhinos chased the hippo, but the confrontation wasn’t particularly intense. The rhinos used their horns to drive it away, but didn’t seem like they were actually trying to injure it.
Nevertheless, they’d managed to rid themselves of a hippo which was acting rather like a bothersome pest to them, and taught it a lesson about bothering other animals.
The Lonely Hippo
It’s difficult to be sure why the hippo would behave this way. Mike said that the “area around the airstrip was pretty barren and I think the hippo was more curious and lonely because at the time many of the hippo had already left this area due to the drought”.
Perhaps this was just a straggler hippo looking for a friend, but it’s going to have to work on its social skills a little if it wants to spend more time with the rhinos.