A baby hippo is killed by several hippos after mom brings it to a new dam, looking for a home. 😢
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Andi Dill, a guide at Royal Malewane, witnessed the heartbreaking scene. He shared the story with LatestSightings.com.
As a guide at Royal Malewane, I have been privileged to witness the majestic beauty of nature in all its forms.
“Quela Dam is one such place, where the serene beauty of the water is home to a variety of creatures. One such creature is the hippopotamus, or hippo, a fascinating and intriguing animal with a unique lifestyle. Recently, I witnessed a heartbreaking incident that has left me deeply saddened.”
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Hippos are fascinating creatures, known for their massive size, formidable jaws, and territorial behavior. These semi-aquatic mammals spend most of their days in the water, only emerging at night to feed on grass. Despite their peaceful appearance, hippos can be very aggressive, particularly when they feel threatened or are competing for resources.
“Whilst watching a pod of hippos after our morning coffee, a female and a very young calf approached the pod, and chaos ensued. One of the members of the pod grabbed the baby and swam off with it, clearly trying to kill it. It was then that the baby managed to get away and got to the shore, fatally injured. The baby stumbled off whilst the mother tried to protect it from the rest of the group that approached.”
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Within a hippo pod, there is a clear hierarchy. Dominant males at the top and females with their young at the bottom. The dominant bull is responsible for protecting the pod and will fiercely defend it against any perceived threats.
Thereafter, two other individuals managed to grab the baby and kill it. A clearly upset mother stood there trying to wade off the rest of the pod, which is when the dominant bull came for her and chased her off.”
It is not uncommon for dominant males to attack or even kill young males or calves that are not their own. This is what happened at Quela Dam when the baby hippo was killed by other members of the pod.