{"id":10723,"date":"2022-04-04T12:12:09","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T11:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/?p=10723"},"modified":"2024-02-18T14:16:49","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T14:16:49","slug":"how-many-people-die-from-hippos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/how-many-people-die-from-hippos\/","title":{"rendered":"How Many People Die from Hippos? 2024 Numbers & Stats"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hippos may look cute, but they are actually very vicious animals, and many people die from their attacks every year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We will tell you the exact number of people hippos kill every year in this short piece, so keep reading. After that, we\u2019ll give you a few additional numbers and statistics that will further surprise you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Many People Die from Hippos<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The hippopotamus species, found only in select corners of Africa, kills around 500 people every year. Still, that<\/span>\u00a0number is estimated to reach as high as 3,000<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Facts and Stats on the Hippopotamus Species<\/span><\/h2>\n

Now that you know how deadly the \u201criver horse\u201d can be let\u2019s look at some other statistics and facts about it. They will likely prove even more astonishing and scary.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. The hippopotamus is the world\u2019s deadliest land mammal.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

(National Geographic, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if we consider the estimate of 500 hippo-related deaths per year, it\u2019s safe to call it the world\u2019s deadliest land mammal. Only humans are deadlier to other humans, and hippos are almost twice as lethal as lions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Hippos are herbivores but do occasionally eat meat.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

(Live Science, 2018)<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite being classified as herbivores and eating around 80 lbs of grass every night, they are known to occasionally feed on carcasses of various animals, including other hippos.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And no, even though a <\/span>hippopotamus<\/span> does <\/span>kill humans<\/span>, it won\u2019t eat them. This is because they don\u2019t see people as a food source and only kill to defend their territory.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Hippos are only territorial in water during the day, but they also defend the immediate vicinity.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

(San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Library, 2021, AZ Animals, 2022)<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s usually the males who strive to control the water territory for mating rights, and they control the land some 55 to 109 yards from a riverbed and 273 to 547 yards from a lake. So, it\u2019s not uncommon for a <\/span>hippo attack<\/span> to happen when a person gets near a body of water.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Hippos often attack people on boats.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

(AZ Animals, 2022)<\/span><\/p>\n

Most commonly, <\/span>hippos kill humans<\/span> when they are on their boats. The animals are typically submerged, so it\u2019s hard to notice them from the surface. The hippo will usually launch itself and capsize the boat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In most cases, <\/span>Hippos kill<\/span> people by crushing or biting them. But on water, it\u2019s not uncommon for a person to drown as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6. A hippo can reach an average of 20 mph when running.<\/span><\/h3>\n

(AZ Animals, 2022)<\/span><\/p>\n

So, when a <\/span>hippopotamus attacks <\/span>a <\/span>man<\/span>, they can\u2019t hope to outrun the animal. Humans typically run at only 6-8 mph, with sprinters reaching 15 mph, which is still a lot slower than the average hippo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This overly aggressive creature can <\/span>weigh up to 9,920 pounds<\/span><\/a> and is <\/span>one of the laziest animals<\/span><\/a> on the planet. However, it can still run much faster than you think should be possible for a creature of that size. That being said, they can only reach that speed in short bursts.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Hippos are deadlier than sharks, as these animals kill only five people a year, on average.<\/span><\/h3>\n

(Florida Museum, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n

We already mentioned that hippos have around 500 death cases per year, which is 100 times more than shark deaths.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Deaths by a shark are, in fact, so rare that you are <\/span>more likely to drown or die from a selfie<\/span><\/a> than be killed by a shark.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Hippo\u2019s bite is strong enough to snap a crocodile in half.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

(NCBI, 2020, AZ Animals, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n

A <\/span>hippopotamus’s bite<\/span> force is 12,600 kPA \u2014 or slightly above 1,800 psi. For comparison, a lion\u2019s bite is only 4,500 kPa. This makes the hippo\u2019s bite one of the strongest in the animal world, just behind crocodiles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it should also be mentioned that the number comes from female hippos, as the males are too aggressive to be tested safely. So, it\u2019s very likely that their bite force is even stronger.<\/span><\/p>\n

9. The skin of a hippo is 2 inches thick.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

(Wild Animals Central, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite popular belief, this makes their skin incredibly strong, but it doesn\u2019t make it bulletproof.<\/span><\/p>\n

No animal\u2019s skin is bulletproof, though there are many animals that wouldn\u2019t be stopped by a single bullet (unless you have a perfect aim). Of course, it also depends on the type of gun, but there are always guns that are strong enough.<\/span><\/p>\n

10. The best way to avoid dying from a hippo attack is to give them enough space.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

(Discover Wildlife)<\/span><\/p>\n

Prevention is the key here, so don\u2019t go into rivers that have large numbers of hippos. If you must, keep your distance.<\/span><\/p>\n

On land, avoid large thickets where a hippo might be hiding. In the end, listen for oxpecker calls, as these are usually a sign that a hippo is near.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

11. Hippos can\u2019t swim; they bounce in the water.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

(AZ Animals, 2022)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Believe it or not, hippos don\u2019t really swim. They are too large and inadequately built to swim effectively, so they usually bounce off the bottom. Most of the time, though, they stay in the shallows.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n

So, there you have it. We\u2019ve given you the total number of <\/span>hippo attacks per year<\/span> and many other interesting stats and facts that clearly explain how dangerous and deadly this oversized cute animal is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The next time you\u2019re near a body of water in Africa, make sure you\u2019re paying attention to your surroundings, so you don\u2019t get capsized by this monster.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sources:<\/span><\/h3>\n