Statistics show that the Hippo kills the most people in Africa every year with exception to the mosquito. I don't believe that these statistics are very accurate as the Crocodile also takes many lives every year.
The Hippo is 99.99% a herbivore so after killing a person they just leave the body and go back into the water. A Crocodile will normally eat whatever it kills.
Here are two examples:
David goes down to the river to do some washing and in the process he gets killed by a Hippo. The evidence is very clear that a Hippo killed him as the hippo’s footprints may be visible and the bite marks on David’s body are also clear, so another death is marked off for that year.
David goes down to river to do some washing in doing so gets killed and eaten by a Crocodile. No one saw what happened, all they know is that he is missing.
So it is impossible to say who kills more people, it could be either Hippo or Crocodile. I think it’s the Crocodile.
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5 comments:
Yep I was a little surprised too when I came across this statistic. I guess Hippos are very territorial and they lead to capsizing of many boats in river - leading to multiple deaths at time. But you are right - victims of crocs may often never be found..thus leading to more potential deaths..
Hippos people seem to think might be slow and clumsy and of course as you know they aren't. I recall watching a National Geographic video about Hippo attacks and the fatalities caused. I think crocodiles are more dangerous because they're stealth hunter - and like you said the victims are never found. Great post
All the best
Liz
I think you are right ...This is my feeling too ...But I noticed crocodile attacks only when he is hungry ...while hippo when is angry ...and his bad temper is known :)Correct me please if I did a mistake...
Great blog, photos and articles. Very informative. Thank you for sharing and keep up the great work. Rick
Statistics on which animal killed what in Africa is always going to be only vague. What is clear, however, is that water in Africa is a problem. With growing populations around lakes and rivers, the crowding not only people, but of their crops, creates less and less habitat for hippos to graze in. Hippos are forced to walk between fields to reach grazing. At times they eat crops, not because they prefer it, but because they have no choice. People defend their crops. Many people do this night after night for years. But statistically it's going to go wrong some of the time.
People know there are crocs in rivers. They are somewhat careful about that (I know, not 100% - I myself have swam with kids were there are crocs were people were killed later on...) But people know crocs kill and they are somewhat cautious. With hippos it's a matter of defending their crops, and that's where the stats get thrown towards the hippo.
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