The Social World of Hippos | Hippo King

NATURE’s Hippo King follows the life story of a young Hippo destined to become the dominant male of his pod, like his father before him. In telling this story, the episode explores the complex social relationships among Hippos in the Luangwa Zambia valley, and how this group behavior (even the fights) ultimately helps them to survive the harsh conditions and many threats they face. This resource engages students with three segments from the episode that display different elements of the social organization of a Hippo pod, from parental care and bonding, to the social structure of a pod, to the battles fought to become the dominant male of the pod. Students will make observations about these three segments as they try to understand how these social behaviors support the survival and reproductive success of the pod. As an extension, students may choose another animal to research, gathering details about the complex social dynamics in the animal kingdom and sharing them with classmates in a multimedia presentation.