Here's a question for you: If you were in Africa right now, which animal would you be fearing the most?
A. Crocodile
B. Lion
C. Snake
D. Cute Hippo
I predict most of you would have chosen the lion, crocodile, or the snake. It's hard to see the hidden fury in that cute, fat hippopotamus. Even I myself, until now, thought that hippos were classified as one of the "friendly" wild animals (like bunnies and monkeys and giraffes!). But in fact, it kills more people in Africa than any other wild animals on the list. This statistic is found as very shocking to a lot of people (including me) since hippopotamuses are not meat eaters. If they don't kill to eat, then what makes them so dangerous?
First, contrasting with their fat, innocent looks, they're actually very bad tempered and quick on both land and water. That big, heavy body of theirs would actually play as a great advantage with just the right amount of speed. Also, their huge tusks that jut out of their strong set of jaws is what makes them one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.
There were numerous accidents when men were unaware of these hippos in water and started bathing there or were coincidentally between a mother and her calf. These have lead to much more deaths of men than the lions of Africa have ever caused. It's said that the general reasons of such accidents, different from the meat eaters who attack for their survival, are because we merely disturb them or step into their territory.
This proves a lot about how you shouldn't just judge upon appearance; those fat, massive, short-legged hippos are actually capable of climbing steep banks and galloping at 18 m.p.h. Let's just remember that we never know when we'll disturb an animal's temper, and it's always the safer way to keep careful.
