Why Do Hippos Spray Their Poo Around?

Hippos are known for being the most aggressive animals in Africa, but did you know they are also aggressive poopers?

Transcript

00:00Hippos might be cute safari mammals, but they're actually really, really dangerous.

00:08In fact, next to the mosquito, they're responsible for more human deaths in Africa every year

00:12than these guys or even these.

00:14And they hate being bothered so much, even before they charge at a blazing 19 miles per

00:19hour.

00:20A new study reveals they have yet another mechanism for getting rid of those who invade

00:23their territory.

00:24They spray poo.

00:25Researchers traveled to the Maputo Special Reserve in Mozambique and recorded the sounds

00:29of hippos in various communities.

00:31They then played the sounds of local hippos, neighboring hippos, and stranger hippos back

00:36to each group, finding that not only did playing all three sounds cause the hippos to mark

00:40their territory by spraying poo, but they did so in greater quantities when they heard

00:44the calls of strangers.

00:46This is an interesting find because it means they are less aggressive to their neighbors,

00:49not always a thing in the animal kingdom.

00:51And the research team notes it could help when relocating the animals, priming communities

00:55on both sides of the transfer with the sounds of the other's calls so as to acclimate them

00:59ahead of time, keeping the peace, and preventing any more of this.