By Frank Japhet - Guide, Chada Katavi
Hippos spend most of their day submerged in water in order to avoid sunburn, and generally come out at night to graze. In Katavi, you can often see them out during the day time, grazing along the river where it is quiet and secure for them. Hippos have a mucous gland, with a secretion which helps prevent their skin from sunburn or infections.
Also in Katavi some of the hippos leave the Katuma river and establish huge hippo pools in the spring water near Ikuu ranger post. They use the mud to keep their skin constantly moist and to protect their wounds from red-billed and yellow-billed oxpeckers. The mud also reduces the itching from ecto-parasites.
Also in Katavi some of the hippos leave the Katuma river and establish huge hippo pools in the spring water near Ikuu ranger post. They use the mud to keep their skin constantly moist and to protect their wounds from red-billed and yellow-billed oxpeckers. The mud also reduces the itching from ecto-parasites.
A few years ago from September to December, the Katuma river dried up completely. The hippos recognised this problem and at the beginning of each July they start to shift from the Katuma river to the Ikuu spring waters. That hippo pool is the union of different small family groups, which are know as ‘schools of hippos’. There are currently between 300-400 hippos at Ikuu hippo pool.
Picture by Philip Pendaeli - Sept 09
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