Why do 3 male lions struggle to deal with a juvenile hippo?

In 2012, the three male lions met each other occasionally while they were wandering on African soil, so they formed an alliance to hunt together. They found a hippopotamus. Due to their superiority in numbers, the Lions Alliance dispatched only 2 members at first, and it was a meal of gnawing and grabbing!

Due to the rough skin and thick flesh, the hippo was also covered in bruises and bruises, and finally hid in the water.

The lion was not used to hunting in the water, so instead of chasing it, he lay in ambush at the edge of the pool, waiting for a good opportunity. The first wait was 2 hours. When the little hippo came ashore again, the Lions Union launched an attack and scuffled with the little hippo.

Eventually, the hippo died in the shallow water, and the lions dragged the hippo ashore and feasted!

It can be seen from this case that lions know hippos, but in the case of a clear advantage in number, the round-up strategy is a very effective way to kill hippos.

But if you have to compare the level, then in a 1-on-1 situation, the hippo has a much better chance of winning. Three male lions kill a baby hippo in a few hours. If a male lion is against an adult hippo, the result is another How is it?

In reality, very few animals dare to attack adult male hippos, and lions generally hunt underage hippos.

So the question is, what exactly does a hippo do?

1. The third largest land animal

After elephants and rhinos, hippos are the third largest animal on land.

With a cylindrical body and sturdy limbs, many people think that hippos should be similar to pigs, but in fact, the closest relatives of hippos are cetaceans. From this point of view, the hippo's body weight of two or three tons does not seem to be strange.

In the animal world, with such a large size, most animals will keep their distance. Even ferocious carnivores will think twice. Only when the success rate is very high, they will take risks to hunt.

At the same time, the hippo is also equipped with a speed of 40 kilometers per hour, and the impact force is like a moving car, and its power should not be underestimated.

Large size, the only disadvantage is poor endurance, but the hippo has the following advantages.

2. Semi-aquatic social animals

Hippos spend most of their time in the water, a habit that is peculiar among their species. On the one hand, it is inseparable from water, and on the other hand, water can protect it from dangerous animals.

Hippopotamus' skin is thick but delicate and can't stand the sun, so every once in a while, water is used to moisturise the skin to prevent dryness and cracking. Hippos also produce a pink oil that is also a natural sunscreen that protects the body from excessive exposure to UV rays when exposed to too much sun.

Hippos are born without a cecum and need to drink water frequently, which is more convenient to stay in the water.

The biggest enemy of the hippo should be the lion. On land, if the lion is chased by the lion, the hippo will have poor endurance and will soon become a "gnawed little angel". Even with thick skin, in the face of a group of lions, death is time. question. If it is in the water, the outcome is completely different. Lions who are accustomed to land often give up hunting hippos because of the aquatic environment.

Not only that, but hippos use water to kill rhinos. The rhino is larger than the hippo, and the strength of the two sides is equal, but in the real battle, the hippo dragged the rhino into the water and drowned.

3. Vegetarianism hides the nature of meat-eating

"Hanhan", "stupid", "chubby", "grass-eating vegetarian"...

These words only describe the most superficial life of hippos. In fact, hippos also eat meat, lions, crocodiles, and even small hippos of the same kind.

Hippos have the potential to eat meat.

Teeth up to 40 cm long, the bite force is higher than that of the lion, up to 1800psi, while the lion is at 650-1000psi, and the mouth can be opened and closed up to 180 degrees, which means it is very easy to take a big watermelon, even a lion, the whole head It is also difficult to escape when stuck in the hippo's mouth.

The most important thing is that hippos are more grumpy, especially male hippos.

Each hippo family consists of a male hippo leader, a group of female hippos and baby hippos, which occupy a small section of water as their "home". Hippos are very territorial, and once other small animals break in, they will instantly become extremely territorial. Attack power.

Some scientists also believe that the temperament of hippos is the most elusive. They will fight for territory or partners, or they may be violent and unpredictable for other reasons.

4. Has the ability to invade

From the first four, to dozens of later, even listed as an invasive species locally, Escobar's four hippos perfectly reflect the invasive ability of hippos.

Escobar is a rich man in Colombia and the boss of a criminal gang. He likes to collect animals the most, so he got a private zoo, including 4 hippos.

The entire Escobar gang was later taken away, and the animals from the private zoo were relocated elsewhere, except for the hippopotamus.

Animals that originally belonged to Africa came to Colombia as if they had come to paradise, and soon developed into at least 50 animals. Although the harm to humans is relatively small, hippos eat and pull more, which directly affects the local ecology.

In order to solve the problem of the flooding of hippos, the local residents are also very troubled. They cannot be killed directly. They are too big to be relocated. It is unrealistic to establish a protected area. It requires a lot of time and money.

at last

In general, an adult hippopotamus is very ferocious. It has an innate size advantage, and it is also aggressive. When it is alone, a lion cannot beat it.

However, it does not mean that lions do not eat hippos, they will still prey on some small hippos.

And lions, if they act in gangs, can also prey on hippos, but the process is more difficult and the success rate is not 100%.