Hippopotami
Read MoreThis Hippo is besieged by red-billed oxpeckers as soon as he emerges from the water. The birds seek the insects feeding in the cracks of the hippo's thick skin. They do not injure the host. Actually, they may do the hippo a service by removing the irritating insects feeding in the cracks of the skin. The birds' sharp-pointed bills probably do hurt. [S. Luangwa NP, Zambia].
Hippopotamus bulls chalenging each other This and the next image illustrate a minor confrontation between two bulls. One bull (R) is the resident of this area of the river. He's just informing the other (L), who is just passing through, whose territory he's in. There will be no fight and no injury incurred. They both know that the 8-inch incisors could inflict serious--even fatal--wounds. {Mara River, Kenya].
Hippopotamus doing flips-1st Image on his back: We arrived at the hide early one morning to find a hippo lying on his back "A dead hippo, I exclaimed!" A couple minutes later, the 'dead' hippo suddenly righted himself. Ten minutes later, he again turned onto his back and remained for 4-5 minutes with his head under water. He kept cycling like this until the sun went down. Switching back and forth had a purpose: he was preventing his skin from drying out & cracking from the hot sun. The water wasn't deep enough for him to submerge his whole body at the same time. [Masuma, Hwange NP, Zimbabwe].
I am photographing from a small boat behind this fleeing hippo family. My guide & I were surprised that they all were so frightened. I would not recommend this procedure be repeated, nor would I consider it for myself, lest next time the hippo bull instead of fleeing, give the order to attack! [Shumba Area, Botswana].