Hippopotamuses - Disney Animals

Behold basking hippos on the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction and while walking the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park.

You can also get a behind-the-scenes perspective of the hippopotamuses on the Wild Africa Trek.

Hippopotamuses in the Wild
Living together in groups called “bloats,” hippos make their home in the calm rivers and lakes of Sub-Saharan Africa. Few creatures on the African savanna are larger than a hippopotamus: adults weigh between 2,500 and 5,500 pounds (1,130 kg to 2,500 kg). These enormous amphibious mammals don’t swim but instead walk along the bottom of the water, holding their breath for up to 5 minutes, and then use their webbed toes to gracefully push themselves up. Small, fragmented populations of hippos can be found across the continent, mostly in protected areas.

Disney’s animal care experts are dedicated to creating authentic habitats that cater to the specific needs of hippos.

The Right Ambience
Tall grasses, shaded trees, rocks, waterfalls and wading pools galore—the hippopotamus exhibit at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park creates an environment that encourages these animals to explore, browse and interact with their surroundings.

Veterinary Care and Training
Have you ever wondered how to get a hippo to go to the dentist? At Disney’s Animal Kingdom park, the hippos are trained to open their mouths on cue so animal care experts can inspect their teeth. Additional training allows the animal care experts to shift the hippos from their onstage and backstage areas with just a sound cue. Training sessions are reinforced with tasty treats like whole watermelons, a favorite hippo snack.

A Buffet Every Day
To simulate the endless number of options that a hippo may come across on the African savanna, the hippos at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park are provided with a wide variety of plant life to choose from daily.

The Walt Disney Company is passionately committed to the protection of hippopotamuses and their natural habitats.

Threats to Hippos
Despite their immense size, hippos face many threats, including habitat loss and poaching.

Growing Pains
As human development pushes further into wild spaces, many hippo habitats are fragmented or destroyed to make way for new roads, towns and agricultural fields. Increased development also brings hippos and humans closer together, which increases the likelihood of human-wildlife conflicts that can end poorly for the animals.

Hunted Hippos
There is no shortage of demand when it comes to hippo hide, meat and tusks. The high value placed on these items makes hunting hippos a profitable enterprise for poachers.

Conserving Habitats in Africa
The Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) has supported projects throughout Africa for more than 20 years to protect the wildlife of this vast continent, including lions, giraffes, African wild dogs, cheetahs and gorillas, to name a few!