Overview

• Hippos can reach speeds of up to 30 km/h, becoming airborne for 15% of their stride.
• The study analyzed 169 running cycles from 32 hippos using high-speed cameras.
• This unique gait is unlike other large mammals such as elephants and rhinos.
• The findings could inform better care and enclosure design for hippos in captivity.
• Researchers aim to explore if baby and pygmy hippos exhibit different locomotion abilities.