How Long Do Hippos Live: The Lifespan of the Hippopotamus

How Long Do Hippos Live: The Lifespan of the Hippopotamus

How Long Do Hippos Live? A Life Journey with Africa’s Mighty River Giants.

How Long Do Hippos Live; Better known as the “river horse,” the hippopotamus is one of Africa’s most iconic creatures. Hippos, with their chunky powerful bodies and amazingly graceful movements in water, create many different feelings: awe and intrigue, among others. But how long does such a magnificent creature live? Understanding the life expectancy of hippos takes us on a journey through the fascinating life cycle of hippos, from birth to adulthood and into their golden years.

The Average Life of Hippos.

In the wild, hippos may live up to 35 to 50 years, but some may live slightly longer given that conditions are favorable. However, for those hippos in captivity, where predators and diseases or food shortage exist, their life might span up to 55 years or more. Their relatively long lifespan thus stands to attest to their powerful life in both the wild and in their human-controlled environments.

Stages in the Life of a Hippopotamus.

1. Birth and Early Life (0–5 years)

Baby hippos, referred to as calves, are born after a gestation period of about 8 months. At birth, a calf weighs approximately 40 to 50 kgs, born either on land or in water, depending on the mother’s decision. Amazingly, new-borns are able to swim and even suckle underwater, an adaptation to life in water.

For the initial years of their life, calves remain with their mothers for food and protection. A mother hippo will be very protective of her young-one; she often keeps her calf close by her side, especially in water, to protect it from any predator, such as crocodiles and lions. At this stage, it relies on its mother’s milk, although at approximately 6 to 8 months, the animal begins to graze while still being suckled as long as for a year.

2. Adolescence (5–10 years)

Hippos reach sexual maturity around the age of 5 to 7 years. In this stage, juvenile males may start leaving their mother’s territory in order to establish a place among other larger pods, whereas females could remain in their natal group. This period might prove very tricky, especially for the males, when they have to compete with other older and more dominant bulls for the right of territory and mating.

It is also during this period of adolescence, much like in any other mammal, that hippos begin to develop the typical thick, leathery skin that characterizes adult hippos, shielding them from the sun, waterborne bacteria, and the occasional bar fight with other hippos.

3. Adulthood, 10–35 years

Adult hippos, usually around 10 to 15 years old, already have some of their social standing worked out. Male hippos are referred to as bulls and seem to be highly territorial. They regularly fight for dominance over a segment of the river or lake; not only a piece of the bottom but also an associated harem of females, or cows. The bulls will engage in agonistic behaviors, with vicious territorial disputes using their powerful jaws and large teeth.

Female hippos do the opposite; they live in groups, usually very attached to other females and their young. Most of the time, adult hippos are submerged in water to maintain a cooler body temperature during the day, coming onto land at night to feed on grass. A full-grown adult hippo can consume up to 40 kgs (88 lbs) of grass in one night to sustain its enormous body.

4. Older Age-35-50 years

With increasing age, the muscular strength and stamina of hippos degenerate. Elderly males usually give up their dominant status over territory to younger, stronger bulls, forcing them to retire into quieter parts of the river or lake. Yet even at this older age, hippos may lead generally undisturbed lives and can well continue spending their days in the water and night-time grazing.

Like other large animals, older hippos may deal with a variety of health-related conditions. The most common factor is the gradual wearing down of their large tusk-like incisors and canines over time. This can diminish their activities of grazing, which might influence their general health condition. In contrast, a hippopotamus can have a rather full and healthy life to its 40th or even 50th birthday in areas where there is plenty of food and no large predators.

How Long Do Hippos Live: The Lifespan of the Hippopotamus

Factors that Determines How Long Do Hippos Live.

Although hippos are considered a long-lived species, several factors directly influence their life expectancy, including the following:

Predation: Because of its size and strength, the adult hippo has few natural predators. However, the young calves are susceptible to predation from crocodiles, lions, and hyenas.

Habitat and Environment: Water and food are the major determinants in the survival of a hippopotamus. Drought conditions or loss of their water home to human activity causes undue stress and reduces their lifespan.

Human Interaction: Human-hippo conflict and poaching for meat and ivory-like teeth continue to be the major threats to hippos. Their survival in the wild now depends on the effectiveness of conservation measures.

Health and Disease: Diseases like anthrax afflict hippos and have caused mass die-offs in certain areas. Infections from wounds sustained during fights with other hippos also tend to reduce their lifespan.

Hippos in Captivity: How Long Do Hippos Live.

Hippos in captivity, on the other hand, enjoy their lifetime more compared to wild ones because they are fed, sheltered, and given medical care. They do not have predators and stress due to territorial fights; health issues can be treated by veterinarians when needed. Captive hippos sometimes live into their late 50s, making them some of the longest-lived mammals in zoos and wildlife parks.

One famous example is Bertha, who lived at Manila Zoo in the Philippines. She passed away in 2017 at an impressive age of 65 years, among the oldest hippos on record.

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Conclusion on How Long Do Hippos Live.

The life expectancy of the hippo bestows testimony on its peculiar adaptation to both land and water. From their early days as playful calves to their majestic dominance in adulthood, hippos are built for longevity. More specifically, this translates to 35-50 years in the wild and even longer in captivity if well looked after. These commanding river monsters still captivate the imagination of anyone who catches a glimpse of them, symbolic of beauty and resilience among all the other African wildlife.

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