Hippopotamus
Status
Vulnerable
Classification
Mammal
Exhibit
African Plains
Water-loving Giants
Hippos are at home in the water and can stay underwater up to five minutes. They can even sleep underwater, surfacing to take a breath as involuntarily as breathing itself. Their eyes, ears and nostrils are all set up high on the top of their heads so that they can remain safely submerged as they survey their surroundings.
Swimming hippos are extremely graceful, and in reality, they gallop underwater.
Preference for Land Food
In the wild, hippos will graze on grass, herbs and leaves. They prefer to eat at night so that their sensitive skin is protected from the sun. And although they don't appear as agile on land as they are in the water, they can sprint up to 18 mph!
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