Our guide Mmbaga proudly, as a meat-eater, I guess, proclaimed that hippos are not vegetarians, but attack and eat gazelles. He had proof in a nat geo type video presso at a rest stop, so we had to go see that after lunch before seeing a hippo watering hole. The hippos do in fact attack a two gazelles swimming innocently through their watery territory. Hippos have two huge incisors which are never used for eating but as a weapon for aggression. In the video the hippos are seen attacking the gazelles, as they do, some of the most dangerous ornery animals in Africa. But they don't eat them; the video shows nothing after the deadly bite. I spoke up during the presso and corrected our gleeful guide. The local Tanzanians of Indian origin angrily joined in my dispute. Suddenly we had a scientific battle swayed by our dietary philosophies!
My field guide claims hippos are vegetarians but have been known to eat rotting carrion in lean times.
The hippos pools were the most amazing sight in our safari. Twenty huge grey Cute submerged bulbous bodies with only ears and eyes and snouts showing except during occasional seemingly synchronised fire hose like jets of green wet feces spraying handfuls of their unphased comrades. The hippos happily wallow in the disgusting muddy fecal brew. No wonder the crocodiles don't come around if hippos are resident.
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