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How can hippopotamus grazing and trampling lead to erosion near rivers?

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A hippopotamus stands at the edge of a watering hole, with several other hippos partially submerged in the water, surrounded by green vegetation in Botswana, Africa. — hippopotamus The word *hippopotamus* is Greek for “river horse,” which reflects their behavior: they are often seen basking on the banks or sleeping in the waters of rivers, lakes, and swamps across Africa. They favor shallow areas where they can sleep half-submerged, though these places can become quite crowded—as many as 150 hippos may use one pool in the dry season.

Near rivers, hippopotamus grazing and trampling can lead to erosion because these activities are most concentrated in those areas. The intense pressure from their large bodies and their feeding habits can denude the riverbanks of all grass, leaving the soil exposed and vulnerable to being washed away.1