Beverly Joubert

Beverly Joubert Instagram – Hippo fights can appear frightfully dramatic. Ear-piercing ‘wheeze-honks’ and grunts are followed by violent, open-mouthed head thrashing resulting in an explosion of spectacular splashes. As brutal as they may seem, these battles are usually all for show. Male rivals will test each other with a display of force to gauge their opponent’s strength and establish who holds rank. Sometimes, the pageantry does turn violent, though, and the weaker male could be on the receiving end of a sharp incisor.⁣
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Beyond their power and presence, hippos are essential to the ecosystems they inhabit. By moving between land and water, they help shape river systems, fertilise wetlands, and create pathways for other species to thrive. Sadly, like many other wild species, hippos face increasing threats from habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and illegal hunting. Protecting them means protecting the delicate balance of Africa’s waterways.⁣
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This #WorldHippoDay, let’s stand together to safeguard these extraordinary creatures and the wild places they call home (link in my bio to watch a hippo battle we filmed for Okavango: River of Dreams).⁣
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#hippoday #hippos #threatenedspecies #GreatPlainsConservation #DereckandBeverlyJoubert #EcoTourism #conservation #ConservationTourism #GreatPlainsFoundation | Posted on 15/Feb/2025 15:10:19