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Where do pygmy hippopotamuses live in western Africa?

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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.

The pygmy hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis, or Choeropsis liberiensis) is found in the lowland tropical forests of western Africa. Specifically, these animals inhabit areas in:

Liberia12
Côte d’Ivoire23
Sierra Leone2
Guinea2

Within these regions, they are typically found along streams and in wet forests and swamps. For example, Taï National Park in Côte d’Ivoire, located near the Liberian frontier, is notable for its population of pygmy hippopotamuses. Unlike the common hippopotamus, the pygmy species is less aquatic and less gregarious, often seen alone or in very small groups.23