Dr. Rebecca Lewison

It is true that hippos, when we ask, like, where does a hippo poop? The answer is anywhere it wants. Mostly it is in the water. But with males, we do see that marking behavior. Another crazy thing. Ready for this?

It is true that hippos, when we ask, like, where does a hippo poop? The answer is anywhere it wants. Mostly it is in the water. But with males, we do see that marking behavior. Another crazy thing. Ready for this?

So what males do is they come out of the water, they start peeing, and then they spray it backwards. And then with their tail, use that to spread with the stream of the pee and the poop coming out. It's gross, and yet extremely effective. And I think it's territory marking, although we don't really know this, because we really only see males do that.

So what males do is they come out of the water, they start peeing, and then they spray it backwards. And then with their tail, use that to spread with the stream of the pee and the poop coming out. It's gross, and yet extremely effective. And I think it's territory marking, although we don't really know this, because we really only see males do that.

So what males do is they come out of the water, they start peeing, and then they spray it backwards. And then with their tail, use that to spread with the stream of the pee and the poop coming out. It's gross, and yet extremely effective. And I think it's territory marking, although we don't really know this, because we really only see males do that.

So we think they're marking their territory, you'll see it as they come out of the water, they kind of do this at a couple places, sometimes they'll smush it against like a tree, or, you know, a rock. And I and we think, again, we don't know this for sure. But we think it's dominant males marking their territory.

So we think they're marking their territory, you'll see it as they come out of the water, they kind of do this at a couple places, sometimes they'll smush it against like a tree, or, you know, a rock. And I and we think, again, we don't know this for sure. But we think it's dominant males marking their territory.

So we think they're marking their territory, you'll see it as they come out of the water, they kind of do this at a couple places, sometimes they'll smush it against like a tree, or, you know, a rock. And I and we think, again, we don't know this for sure. But we think it's dominant males marking their territory.

There's just spreading the love, right? They're spreading what they do best. And it is one of the things they do best. They're really important nutrient movers and ecosystem engineers in that way.

There's just spreading the love, right? They're spreading what they do best. And it is one of the things they do best. They're really important nutrient movers and ecosystem engineers in that way.

There's just spreading the love, right? They're spreading what they do best. And it is one of the things they do best. They're really important nutrient movers and ecosystem engineers in that way.

No, mostly when they're sleeping, they're resting above the water. So I remember I was thinking like, imagine there's sort of a log, that's the hippo's head. And so mostly when you see them resting, it's they're resting on the bottom. And that's one of the reasons why their nostrils are really at the end of the log, that's their head, is so they can breathe that way.

No, mostly when they're sleeping, they're resting above the water. So I remember I was thinking like, imagine there's sort of a log, that's the hippo's head. And so mostly when you see them resting, it's they're resting on the bottom. And that's one of the reasons why their nostrils are really at the end of the log, that's their head, is so they can breathe that way.

No, mostly when they're sleeping, they're resting above the water. So I remember I was thinking like, imagine there's sort of a log, that's the hippo's head. And so mostly when you see them resting, it's they're resting on the bottom. And that's one of the reasons why their nostrils are really at the end of the log, that's their head, is so they can breathe that way.

So they're only underwater, again, at like five to six minutes, maybe max at a time, it could easily be less. They're not sleeping underwater.

So they're only underwater, again, at like five to six minutes, maybe max at a time, it could easily be less. They're not sleeping underwater.

So they're only underwater, again, at like five to six minutes, maybe max at a time, it could easily be less. They're not sleeping underwater.

They look like logs, honestly, when you go to an area where there's a lot of hippos. And so there's sort of this like small top of the log, that's the hippo that you can see. That's them just sort of And actually I should say, are they sleeping? I don't know. They're certainly resting.

They look like logs, honestly, when you go to an area where there's a lot of hippos. And so there's sort of this like small top of the log, that's the hippo that you can see. That's them just sort of And actually I should say, are they sleeping? I don't know. They're certainly resting.

They look like logs, honestly, when you go to an area where there's a lot of hippos. And so there's sort of this like small top of the log, that's the hippo that you can see. That's them just sort of And actually I should say, are they sleeping? I don't know. They're certainly resting.