DEFENDING A HOME: THE HIPPO BULL TERRITORIAL BEHAVIOUR AS A CASE STUDY

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The Hippopotamus is the third largest land animal after elephant and white rhinoceros. It is an herbivorous, semi-aquatic animal limited to Sub-Sahara Africa for centuries now. The animal is semi-aquatic because during the day, it stays in its freshwater environment (Rivers, lakes, wetlands or streams) and by dusk, goes out to graze on short grasses. Initially, a considerable number lives around The Nile in North Africa, but the animal is now extinct in the region. Today, The Hippo is a vulnerable species because of its meat and canine made of ivory. In African regions where they are found, Hippos account for the highest number of human deaths from animals! 
One distinctive feature of The Hippopotamus is territoriality. Here, a male (bull) presides over a stretch of the freshwater containing 5 - 40 others which is a combination of females (cows), juveniles and calves. Mating is a sole responsibility of the dominant bull even if the cows are up to 30 within the group (bloat). Other bulls are allowed in the group as long as they are cooperative. The Bull is always very aggressive, unpredictable and overly protective of the territory. It attacks any intruder of any kind, even lions and crocodiles are no match for it. When another bull feels like mating, it challenges the dominant bull to a fight. Hippos fight by clogging together their 50 cm long canine, a bite from this canine has a force of close to 8,100 Newton and such fights could last for more than one hour! If the fight ends in stalemate, it means the dominant male now has its equal in the group and they rest to fight some other day. If the challenger wins, it becomes the dominant bull but if it loses, it is driven out of the bloat!
Hippos are not territorial on land and grazing is a solitary activity. This means they are “Pseudo-social” animals, that is, they are not truly social. By dawn, they are back to their territorial freshwater environment to rest and perform other behavioural activities apart from grazing. If the dominant bull fails to return home on time, another bull takes over immediately, when it returns, they would have to fight and the winner takes over the territory.
Just like running a country is the responsibility of a president and defending it from external and internal aggression is that of the Chief of army staff, running a home is the responsibility of a wife and defending it from intruders is the responsibility of a husband. A man who lose control over his home is like a hippo bull that lose to a challenging bull, he will be driven out of the home with or without presence.
In addition, a man who leaves to even fend for his home without proper communication and a late return is like a Hippo bull that fails to return to the territory on time by dawn, he will face a challenge from another man and may lose control of his home in the process.
And most importantly, bear it in mind that mating is your sole responsibility as a husband!
Therefore, a man must defend his home like a Hippopotamus bull and return on time by dawn.
Five hundred and fifty (550) are enough for the wise.

Kolade Chris (Ksound) 

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