Feb 21, 2011
Baby hippo needs a little underwater nudge from mama
(source unknown)
Baby hippos are born underwater at a weight between 25 and 45 kg (60–110 lb) and an average length of around 127 cm (50 in) and must swim to the surface to take their first breath. (source)
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Awww!
If newborn hippos had to swim to get their first breath, they’d die. Hippos can’t swim. Or float for that matter either.
I don’t think the nudge is that little if it has to get a fairly heavy baby hippo to the surface.
Wikipedia, which is where I get all my knowledge :), says the adults can’t swim or float, but the babies can.
So if adults can’t swim or float, how would Mama get to the top after giving birth?
These is a very interesting discussion.
the babies do need to swim for their first breath, it’s true, I’ve seen it. the mom walks in and out of the water.
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-hippopotamus.html
The adult hippos push themselves along the bottom, rather than swim, so it most likely walked down to that depth to nudge the baby up and then walked back the way it came.