Baby hippos swim the moment they are born, because they are born in water. Hippos live in schools up to 30, containing females and their offspring, young males and one single dominant male that defends the school. It is not, however, strictly nocturnal. Hipos may cover up to 33km of water each night searching for food. They eat mainly the grasses along the shores of the rivers they inhabit, but they have been keen on grazing up to 3.2km from the shoreline.
Hippos are extremely graceful in the water, despite their clumsy appearance on land.
Their specific gravity allows them to sink to the bottom of rivers and literally walk or run along the bottom. The hippos use their long canine teeth as weapons , and death often results from fighting between males. Most adult male hides are covered with scars from injuries caused during fights. The losing males are often relocated to a solitary existence. 2,2001 E-MAIL Mrs.