Hippo Behavior: Geophagy & Mineral Supplementation 🦛
Happy World Hippo Day! 🦛🌍
Did you know that prior to 1909, scientists grouped hippos with pigs? That explains why tourists still oink at them today. But the truth is much wilder.
This scene is one of the top three hippo moments I’ve ever witnessed in Kruger. This hippo chased off a massive 20ft Nile crocodile—which still had an impala in its jaws—and then started licking the blood from the sand.
Why? It’s likely a behavior called Osteophagia (seeking nutrients). While hippos are herbivores, they sometimes crave salt, iron, or phosphorus missing from the grass. But there might be more to it. I’ve watched a pod encircle a dead kudu, lick the body, and leave in a quiet procession.
It reminds us that hippos (part of the Whippomorpha group) are actually evolutionary cousins to whales and dolphins 🐋🐬. They share complex social structures and, perhaps, even rituals around death.
#worldhippoday #hippo #Whippomorpha #kruger #wildlife #natureismetal #evolution #safari