Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which animals prey on young hippopotamus calves?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

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.

Young hippopotamus calves are vulnerable to predation by crocodiles, lions, and hyenas.1

While adult hippos are generally safe from most predators due to their massive size and aquatic habits, these specific animals may target the young.21