Hippos and rhinos share the same space and are both as big as each other. Depending on the circumstances, a hippo certainly could kill or fatally wound a rhino.
Can A Hippo Kill A Rhino Instantly?
It would be very unlikely for a hippo to kill a rhino instantly, although, in a fight, it could certainly happen eventually. Hippos have razor-sharp teeth – around 1ft long in adult males – and they aren’t afraid to use them. Hippos are extremely cantankerous and if someone or something gets too close – they will attack.
They don’t care if it is a human, lion, rhino, or even jeep – they will charge first and ask questions later. So, if a rhino gets itself in the wrong place – it would be a big risk. Even though a rhino has a giant horn and really thick skin – hippos are so used to fighting everything they see (including other giant hippos) that they are more able to inflict serious injury on others.
If the rhino is a calf or small adult – or hornless – then their chances of coming away from this encounter without any wounds get slimmer and slimmer. It isn’t like hippos seek out rhinos to attack though – hippos rarely ever travel too far from water and when spooked always run straight back to it. So again, a rhino accidentally in the wrong place could antagonize a hippo without knowing it.
Could A Rhino Kill A Hippo?
With their giant horns, powerful neck, and fast running speed – a rhino could certainly inflict serious injuries on a young or small hippo – but the larger White Rhinos rarely attack anything. Their usual response to fear is to run away – big horn or not.
Black Rhinos on the other hand are very nervous animals – and quite likely to attack if they are spooked. It is their natural response. This species is known for its attacks on humans and vehicles both in the wild and in captivity. Therefore, if there was an altercation near a dried-up watering hole or they ran into each other at night – there could be quite a battle until they both realized who they were. It is far better as a wild animal to stay out of a fight to protect yourself from injury – and fighting a hippo is one sure way to get hurt.
Only the African rhinos live in the same habitats as hippos (and that is Common Hippos – not Pygmy Hippos) so the outcome is the same. Unless the hippo is an unattended calf or the rhino was dehorned – it wouldn’t be a clear cut win for either of them.
Do Rhinos Kill Other Animals?
Rhinos don’t generally kill any other animals – as they are a herbivore. They don’t need to kill anything as they can’t eat it anyway. Rather a waste of time and energy.
However, what is a crucial need for rhinos (in their culture anyway) is to fight and kill other rhinos. Whether it is 2 males fighting for territory or breeding rights, or females too, Black Rhinos have the highest mortality rates for in-breed fighting with up to 50% of bulls dying of injuries. Normally, animals have a complicated layering of behaviours and posturing to show off their strength without the need for fighting – but Black Rhinos are less subtle. They just love a fight.
Due to this inclination to charge at almost anything – they can of course indirectly kill a vast number of different animals who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time – and not being able to avoid their charge. Videos online even show them ‘killing’ a safari jeep. These are not one of the animals you want to play dead for – they just keep coming.
Do Hippos and Rhinos Live in the Same Habitat?
Hippos and rhinos do not share the same habitat. While they both inhabit regions in Africa, their preferences for different types of environments create distinct distributions. Hippos are mostly found in water bodies such as rivers and lakes, while rhinos prefer grasslands and savannas. Thus, their distinct hippo habitats and distribution ensure that they do not frequently interact in the wild.
What Animals Kill Rhinos?
Healthy adult rhinos have no real predators. The only animal that regularly kills rhinos is humans. With guns.
However, calves, small adults, and wounded or sick rhinos will get attacked by a host of large predators for an easy meal, including the big cats. In all their range – from southern Africa, across Asia, and down into south-East Asia – there are big cats. And when they are hungry and see an opportunity – they will attack. In Africa, wild dogs and hyenas – if really hungry – could try to take down a young rhino. Only if the parents weren’t watching!
Elephants are known to attack and kill rhinos – as are buffalo – but these are usually due to strained environmental factors rather than regular predation. Similarly, with hippos – it is just circumstance rather than planning.
If you aren’t thinking of just predation for killing – or anything huge – then perhaps teeny parasites could kill a rhino. The tsetse fly carries a few nasty diseases that could affect and possibly kill rhinos without them even knowing they had been attacked.
