Dr. Rebecca Lewison

Common hippos are in 38 countries. And so it's a challenge to to get all that information. But our best guess is probably something around 130,000, which is not a lot. In the world? Yeah. I mean, well, recently we only count the ones in Africa.

Common hippos are in 38 countries. And so it's a challenge to to get all that information. But our best guess is probably something around 130,000, which is not a lot. In the world? Yeah. I mean, well, recently we only count the ones in Africa.

Yeah, in Africa. And that's about probably a third of the amount of elephants that we have. And so it's a real issue. And the problem is when I would tell people, oh, I study hippos. First of all, that's crazy. And we're concerned because their numbers are declining.

Yeah, in Africa. And that's about probably a third of the amount of elephants that we have. And so it's a real issue. And the problem is when I would tell people, oh, I study hippos. First of all, that's crazy. And we're concerned because their numbers are declining.

Yeah, in Africa. And that's about probably a third of the amount of elephants that we have. And so it's a real issue. And the problem is when I would tell people, oh, I study hippos. First of all, that's crazy. And we're concerned because their numbers are declining.

If you're in a place where there are a lot of hippos, someone's going to turn around behind you and be like, excuse me, do you see that large group of like 50 to 100 hippos? But they aggregate. And so it may seem like there's a lot of them, but there's been a tremendous amount of loss of habitat. And, you know, 130,000 is not very many.

If you're in a place where there are a lot of hippos, someone's going to turn around behind you and be like, excuse me, do you see that large group of like 50 to 100 hippos? But they aggregate. And so it may seem like there's a lot of them, but there's been a tremendous amount of loss of habitat. And, you know, 130,000 is not very many.

If you're in a place where there are a lot of hippos, someone's going to turn around behind you and be like, excuse me, do you see that large group of like 50 to 100 hippos? But they aggregate. And so it may seem like there's a lot of them, but there's been a tremendous amount of loss of habitat. And, you know, 130,000 is not very many.

Yeah. I think most people know, like I said, sort of East African countries, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Botswana has a lot of hippos. The place that we know hippos are probably most vulnerable right now is West African countries because there's much more population growth, less habitat for hippos, a lot more pressure on freshwater resources.

Yeah. I think most people know, like I said, sort of East African countries, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Botswana has a lot of hippos. The place that we know hippos are probably most vulnerable right now is West African countries because there's much more population growth, less habitat for hippos, a lot more pressure on freshwater resources.

Yeah. I think most people know, like I said, sort of East African countries, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Botswana has a lot of hippos. The place that we know hippos are probably most vulnerable right now is West African countries because there's much more population growth, less habitat for hippos, a lot more pressure on freshwater resources.

And so I think there's probably people in countries like Nigeria or Guinea or Guinea-Bissau that they may not even know that they have common hippos because they exist in such low densities.

And so I think there's probably people in countries like Nigeria or Guinea or Guinea-Bissau that they may not even know that they have common hippos because they exist in such low densities.

And so I think there's probably people in countries like Nigeria or Guinea or Guinea-Bissau that they may not even know that they have common hippos because they exist in such low densities.

And there's some disagreement of whether there are or aren't subspecies. But there are potentially as many for subspecies.

And there's some disagreement of whether there are or aren't subspecies. But there are potentially as many for subspecies.

And there's some disagreement of whether there are or aren't subspecies. But there are potentially as many for subspecies.

There aren't very many of us. And part of it is because hippos are really hard to study. They're these animals that are hiding in plain sight. They're in the water during the day. It's very difficult to tell them apart, right? With elephants, we have big ears that you can identify individuals and you just can't. And they're just not on a lot of radars for conservation organizations.

There aren't very many of us. And part of it is because hippos are really hard to study. They're these animals that are hiding in plain sight. They're in the water during the day. It's very difficult to tell them apart, right? With elephants, we have big ears that you can identify individuals and you just can't. And they're just not on a lot of radars for conservation organizations.

There aren't very many of us. And part of it is because hippos are really hard to study. They're these animals that are hiding in plain sight. They're in the water during the day. It's very difficult to tell them apart, right? With elephants, we have big ears that you can identify individuals and you just can't. And they're just not on a lot of radars for conservation organizations.