# Could you successfully raise hippos in the US as a meat animal? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2014, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278 "2014-08-11T00:55:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/21 "2014-08-11T07:10:58Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Lot of good meat on a hippo -[GoPro - Carving up a Hippo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7FRGiAT9pI) Yes, but I thought that in general there’s a comparatively high risk of disease that hippos can pass on to humans when they’re eaten. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/22 "2014-08-11T07:29:14Z")
A significant percentage of a hippo’s total body weight is accounted for by its skin - so I’m guessing the crackling will be good. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/23 "2014-08-11T07:32:43Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > Awww, so cute! > They seem to be pretending it’s fake, but that’s probably to keep people from getting them. I’m going to order a breeding pair. We have enough problems with moose, and you want to introduce something new? > [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Arboreal hippos? > And we think we have a problem with dropbears in Aust! Dropbears… yeah, right. Next you’ll be telling me that there are kangaroos that live in trees. 🙂 > [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > Kudzu. [Kudzu in the United States - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudzu_in_the_United_States) > > the South has a near endless supply. One alien species to deal with another. What could go wrong? So, uh, what eats hippos? And what else eats kudzu? ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/24 "2014-08-11T11:49:11Z")
Everybody eats hippo. Or should. It’s reputed to be quite tasty. Apparently, cows eat kudzu, baled as hay.People in Asia eat the roots. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/25 "2014-08-11T12:23:45Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Hippos could be used to help control excessive vegetation caused by farm run off water, harvesting excess animals could control the populations but **they are very dangerous animals. I bet hippo milk would be good.** _hands you a bucket_ Good luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/26 "2014-08-11T13:51:55Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > A significant percentage of a hippo’s total body weight is accounted for by its skin - so I’m guessing the crackling will be good. “Mmmmm, fried [del]pork[/del] hippo rinds!” What is Swahili for “chicaronnes”? ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/27 "2014-08-11T13:53:13Z")
I wonder whether any project for hippos in the US as a meat animal, would run into strong opposition from animal-lovers? I gather that an element in the saga of escaped hippos multiplying in the wild in Colombia (mentioned in this thread’s OP; additional material on the subject in the Pit thread, commenced 7-12-2014 “Stupid drug lords and ther hippos”) – is that the locals often feel fond of the hippos, seeing them as cuddly and “floppy”, and are reluctant to do them any harm; at least, until hippos kill a few people… (The whole business above, rather increases my fancy for visiting Colombia – whatever else, it seems to be a wonderfully crazy place.) ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/28 "2014-08-11T14:34:41Z")
Hippo milk has about 500 calories per cup, I would imagine it could be a good source for creams and cheeses. They seem to domesticate very easily as well but just one temper tantrum could have disastrous consequences. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/29 "2014-08-11T15:02:43Z")
Hippos are the most dangerous animal in Africa, killing thousands of people every year. Now, the American lifestyle is quite different from that of many Africans, so presumably the death toll would be lower, but still… I suspect the danger would not be worth what little gain there might be. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/30 "2014-08-11T15:03:13Z")
I think I could get hungry for hippo, but I doubt I’d ever be _hungry hungry_. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/31 "2014-08-11T15:46:45Z")
[Mud, mud glorious mud . . .](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjnOj9O16_I#t=01m15s)\* The biggest problem with raising hippos is that they are mean, territorial, and undomesticatable. Don’t let their shape fool you – hippos kill more people each year than any other African large mammal. They are apt to do that if imported – not only their keepers, but anyone who gets too near them – and you can’t really herd them, so you have to slaughter them one by one with rifles. It’s a big risk for a meat that really has no market. \*Produced by George (5th Beatle) Martin, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/32 "2014-08-11T15:56:11Z")
This is a _very_ bad idea. From the Wiki on hippos: > [@](#): > > Hippos are also subject to unregulated hunting and poaching. In May 2006, the hippopotamus was identified as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List drawn up by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), with an estimated population of between 125,000 and 150,000 hippos, a decline of between 7% and 20% since the IUCN’s 1996 study. Zambia (40,000) and Tanzania (20,000–30,000) possess the largest populations. > The hippo population declined most dramatically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The population in Virunga National Park had dropped to 800 or 900 from around 29,000 in the mid-1970s. The decline is attributed to the disruptions caused by the Second Congo War. The poachers are believed to be Mai-Mai rebels, poorly paid Congolese soldiers, and local militia groups. Reasons for poaching include the belief that hippos are harmful to society, as well as financial gain. The sale of hippo meat is illegal, but black-market sales are difficult for Virunga National Park officers to track. Hippo meat is considered a delicacy in some areas of central Africa and the teeth have become a valued substitute for elephant ivory. Anything that pushes the idea of “hippos as a commodity” is bad, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![MrsTime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@MrsTime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrsTime)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/33 "2014-08-11T16:04:45Z")
> [@](#): > > The hippo is responsible for more human fatalities in Africa than any other large animal. Male hippos actively defend their territories which run along the banks of rivers and lakes. Females have also been known to get extremely aggressive if they sense anyone coming in between their babies, who stay in the water while she feeds on the shore. Hippos can run at speeds of over 20 miles an hour and they have enormous jaws which host up to 20 inch canines. [http://goafrica.about.com/od/africasafariguide/tp/dangerousanimals.htm](http://goafrica.about.com/od/africasafariguide/tp/dangerousanimals.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/34 "2014-08-11T16:45:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > This is a _very_ bad idea. From the Wiki on hippos: > > > [@](#): > > > > Hippos are also subject to unregulated hunting and poaching. In May 2006, the hippopotamus was identified as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List drawn up by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), with an estimated population of between 125,000 and 150,000 hippos, a decline of between 7% and 20% since the IUCN’s 1996 study. Zambia (40,000) and Tanzania (20,000–30,000) possess the largest populations. > > The hippo population declined most dramatically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The population in Virunga National Park had dropped to 800 or 900 from around 29,000 in the mid-1970s. The decline is attributed to the disruptions caused by the Second Congo War. The poachers are believed to be Mai-Mai rebels, poorly paid Congolese soldiers, and local militia groups. Reasons for poaching include the belief that hippos are harmful to society, as well as financial gain. The sale of hippo meat is illegal, but black-market sales are difficult for Virunga National Park officers to track. Hippo meat is considered a delicacy in some areas of central Africa and the teeth have become a valued substitute for elephant ivory. > > Anything that pushes the idea of “hippos as a commodity” is bad, in my opinion. So, what you’re saying is there’s a large unmet demand for hippo meat, plus demand for their ivory, the population could use boosting, and they’re easy to cull. I bet you could even get people to pay you to hunt them when it’s time to harvest. Sounds like a great business opportunity! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/35 "2014-08-11T16:51:16Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > So, what you’re saying is there’s a large unmet demand for hippo meat, plus demand for their ivory, the population could use boosting, and they’re easy to cull. I bet you could even get people to pay you to hunt them when it’s time to harvest. Sounds like a great business opportunity! No. What I’m saying is that the possibility of successfully raising them here is slim, but if we get people interested in eating hippo meat those damn poachers will jump at the chance to slaughter whatever they can to meet the demands. Any campaign to get people interested in hippo meat has a high probability of backfiring, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/36 "2014-08-12T00:38:11Z")
> **[Pygmy hippopotamus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_hippo)** > > The pygmy hippopotamus or pygmy hippo (Choeropsis liberiensis) is a small hippopotamid which is native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, primarily in Liberia, with small populations in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. It has been extirpated from Nigeria. > The pygmy hippo is reclusive and nocturnal. It is one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being its much larger relative, the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) or Nile hippopotamus. The pyg... Are pygmy hippos just [too cute to eat](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fauna-flora.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fpygmy-hippo_credit-Lorinda-Taylo_web.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fauna-flora.org%2Fspecies%2Fpygmy-hippo%2F&h=280&w=520&tbnid=mrqUFLaITa30iM%3A&zoom=1&docid=2lHvZ-kCy5wWqM&ei=oGHpU96iBtOYyASxh4CwAg&tbm=isch&client=firefox-a&ved=0CEEQMygKMAo&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=510&page=1&start=0&ndsp=29)? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/37 "2014-08-12T02:55:20Z")
The sirens call of a live action version of [Hyacinth Hippo & her servants](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuhHjdyDUhU) is too strong to ignore. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/38 "2014-08-12T03:02:29Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > [Pygmy hippopotamus - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_hippo) > > Are pygmy hippos just [too cute to eat](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fauna-flora.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fpygmy-hippo_credit-Lorinda-Taylo_web.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fauna-flora.org%2Fspecies%2Fpygmy-hippo%2F&h=280&w=520&tbnid=mrqUFLaITa30iM%3A&zoom=1&docid=2lHvZ-kCy5wWqM&ei=oGHpU96iBtOYyASxh4CwAg&tbm=isch&client=firefox-a&ved=0CEEQMygKMAo&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=510&page=1&start=0&ndsp=29)? You eat them or [they eat you.](http://blstb.msn.com/i/76/75AD590F4F47D94BFEDC17E92F166.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/39 "2014-08-12T03:28:49Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > You eat them or [they eat you.](http://blstb.msn.com/i/76/75AD590F4F47D94BFEDC17E92F166.jpg) Not when they’re that size. But when [they’re like this?!](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2Fd%2Fd2%2FPygmy_hippopotamus_hungry.jpg%2F1280px-Pygmy_hippopotamus_hungry.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPygmy_hippopotamus&h=960&w=1280&tbnid=TnDelpXKNsUy6M%3A&zoom=1&docid=ERxB5DCNieHolM&ei=uIjpU8C1HoTgoATyi4DQAg&tbm=isch&client=firefox-a&ved=0CDwQMygJMAk&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=487&page=1&start=0&ndsp=29) Keep that sidearm handy! [The facts on regular hippos:](http://www.buzzfeed.com/gavon/6-reasons-hippos-are-terrifying) - ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278/40 "2014-08-12T04:24:49Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > [Pygmy hippopotamus - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_hippo) > > Are pygmy hippos just [too cute to eat](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fauna-flora.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fpygmy-hippo_credit-Lorinda-Taylo_web.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fauna-flora.org%2Fspecies%2Fpygmy-hippo%2F&h=280&w=520&tbnid=mrqUFLaITa30iM%3A&zoom=1&docid=2lHvZ-kCy5wWqM&ei=oGHpU96iBtOYyASxh4CwAg&tbm=isch&client=firefox-a&ved=0CEEQMygKMAo&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=510&page=1&start=0&ndsp=29)? Cute but I don’t want to touch it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-successfully-raise-hippos-in-the-us-as-a-meat-animal/695278.md?page=3)