Even tactical predators like lions and hyenas have an exceedingly difficult time hunting down these two species of lumbering ungulates. We wouldn’t mess with these animals in a million years, but what happens when an elephant puts itself in front of dozens of hippos? Do the animals face off or do they interact harmoniously?
Who’s Stronger? Elephant vs Hippo
We’ve got an in-depth analysis of whether an elephant or a hippo would win in a fight, although the word ‘fight’ suggests they’d square up with boxing gloves. It might be more of a brawl or a tussle than a fight, but that’s beside the point. The elephant is monstrous, ranking as the largest land mammal in the world. Hippos, on the other hand, are notoriously ornery and come equipped with massive teeth longer and more forceful than those of a saber-toothed tiger. In most cases, the elephant would stomp away victoriously because of its agility and size advantage. Many hippos could put up a good fight, however. In the video below, there are dozens of hippos taking mud baths in their natural environment. If all of them were to join forces, it would be difficult for the elephant to cross. This elephant was determined to get to the other side, though. He stands tall, makes himself known with a puff or two of water, presents his majestic ears like the wings of a massive butterfly, and steps forward. After a moment, the hippos take notice. They move out of the way out of some kind of respect for the elephant. The energy used to get out of the way is less of an inconvenience than the rage of a frustrated elephant, apparently. In any case, it’s a beautiful thing to see this elephant strut his way through the path of hippos who wisely deferred to him.
Do Elephants & Hippos Compete?
The fact that these hippos parted like the Red Sea may or may not be surprising to you. The elephant is a herbivore, and hippos are omnivorous creatures that prefer plants to meat. One is not likely to try and eat the other! That said, two herbivorous land mammals have the potential to compete for food, and that’s enough to spark dangerous encounters. Land and food sources are sometimes hard to come by, so one of these animals might challenge the other if they’re encroaching on territory. Hippos and elephants are known to spat occasionally, although it’s not extremely common for them to outright attack one another. At the end of the day, it’s not worth the risk in most cases. So, they defer to each other in a lot of instances and produce the amazing harmony we see in the video below.
Is it Normal for Elephants to Socialize with Hippos?
Yes, these two creatures tend to live near one another in relative peace in the real world. Hippos will make room for elephants to avoid conflict because hippos sense that elephants are simply too strong and massive to fight or take down.
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