Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Susan Igdaloff's Travels
Photo 78 of 152
Hippopotamus with baby
Male hippos are about 7 years old and females about 9 years old when they become ready to mate. Hippo mating usually happens within the dry seasons when most of the hippos have congregated around water sources. Mating usually takes place under the water. The female hippo will carry her baby for about 240 days. When the time comes to give birth, she will separate from the herd and isolate herself.One single calf is born, usually underwater and mother and calf will stay together away from the herd for between 10 – 44 days. The mother hippo will nudge her calf to the surface of the water to catch its first breath and then the calf will take a breath, close its nostrils, fold its ears and submerge to nurse on its mother.
Uploaded
Taken
- comments