By Josie October 18th, 2023
This tense but adorable stand-off shows three baby hippos learning the ropes of the world: a massive elephant vs. three tiny baby hippos.
They employ intricate strategies to defend their territories, combining vocal, chemical, and physical displays.
Physical displays, such as flaring their ears and stamping the ground, showcase their formidable size and strength.
In the wild, baby hippos, though well-protected by their mothers, can sometimes wander off and find themselves in precarious situations.
In the video, Curios and unaware of the danger, the three baby hippos edge closer to the elephant who initially backs off.
Eventually, the elephant has enough and breaks a branch as a way of warning, and the hippos quickly change their minds and escape back into the river.
While not natural enemies, elephants and hippos can have confrontational encounters, primarily due to territorial disputes.
The elephant’s grumpy reaction to the hippos’ intrusion underscores the tension that can arise when territorial boundaries are crossed.