# Don't walk on the backs of hippos. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 20, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254 "2009-11-20T03:27:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/1 "2009-11-20T03:27:31Z")
[Not even if you’re a crocodile.](http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/nov/17/hippopotamus-crocodile-wildlife-tanzania?picture=355691958) A crocodile thinks he’s found a convenient bridge, but the “bridge” has other ideas. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/2 "2009-11-20T03:35:17Z")
Cool! It’s just crying to be made into one of those proverbs that doesn’t quite make sense: “Not even a crocodile can walk across the backs of hippos.” ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/3 "2009-11-20T03:46:53Z")
It reminds me of [sheep dogs.](http://www.turleestationstay.com.au/_Media/sheep_dog_at_work-4.jpeg) Sheep are obviously a safer animal to try this sort of stunt with. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/4 "2009-11-20T04:00:28Z")
Why would a crocodile want a “bridge” or want to to stay out of the water? ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/5 "2009-11-20T04:03:06Z")
If one person tells me that today… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/6 "2009-11-20T04:06:03Z")
Crocs and hippos usually have an uneasy alliance. As long as the crocs don’t mess with hippo babies or try anything stupid, hippos will live and let live. This croc probably stepped in a hippo ear or got too close to a young’un, causing that reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/7 "2009-11-20T04:15:42Z")
Somebody tell me that I am not the only one that read the tittle as **Don’t walk on the backs of Hippies.** ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/8 "2009-11-20T04:31:35Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Why would a crocodile want a “bridge” or want to to stay out of the water? bridge? i think the croc was trying to get _into_ the pool! damn hippos hogging all the real estate 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/9 "2009-11-20T13:00:18Z")
All I want for Christmas is a hippopotamus. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/10 "2009-11-20T13:14:15Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > All I want for Christmas is a hippopotamus. i want one of the farting hippo dolls like Abbey in NCIS has … ---
**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:** [November 20, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/11 "2009-11-20T14:16:12Z")
I don’t know. If I’ve seen further than others, it’s because I’ve been standing on the back of hippos. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/12 "2009-11-20T15:28:46Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Why would a crocodile want a “bridge” or want to to stay out of the water? Thought it was safer than walking “under” them? ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/13 "2009-11-20T15:34:24Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Somebody tell me that I am not the only one that read the tittle as **Don’t walk on the backs of Hippies.** Geez, those vicious bastards will kill you for sure! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/14 "2009-11-20T15:45:06Z")
I’m going to show that sequence of pictures to our kitten. Maybe then he’ll think twice about walking on the backs of his sisters. ---
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/15 "2009-11-20T16:39:45Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > i want one of the farting hippo dolls like Abbey in NCIS has … Oh, me, too!!! But have you priced those buggers??:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/16 "2009-11-20T18:24:23Z")
I saw a nature show and it was interesting… The hippos were afraid of the lions, but not the crocs. The crocs were afraid of the hippos but not the lions The lions were afraid of the crocs but not the hippos It’s like rock/paper/scissors 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/17 "2009-11-20T18:28:16Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I saw a nature show and it was interesting… > > The hippos were afraid of the lions, but not the crocs. > > The crocs were afraid of the hippos but not the lions > > The lions were afraid of the crocs but not the hippos > > It’s like rock/paper/scissors 🙂 Throw in a pig-like mammal and you have croc covers tapir! ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/18 "2009-11-20T18:32:32Z")
Picture of the week. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/19 "2009-11-20T18:47:27Z")
In other [hippo news](http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/971946/shooters-kill-hippo-in-nt-outback), an Australian pig hunter shot a pygmy hippo by mistake in the Northern Territory. It is thought the African mammal was holidaying with friends when the tragedy occurred. The hippo consulate has sent a crack investigative team to look into the incident, the [Hiphopopotamus and Rhymenoceros](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbbxA8a_M_s) are expected to be landing in Darwin later this evening. (YouTube.) ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254/20 "2009-11-20T19:12:07Z")
My wife has ‘fear’ of crocodiles (and alligators) but not so much of hippos. When we went on a family vacation to Tanzania one of the safaris had a lunch break next to the hippo pool. They were safely in the water some distance away. We actually ate lunch in the truck because the birds (hawks?) were diving at us trying to snatch our sandwiches. It was a couple days later that she discovered that the hippo is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. She was not pleased that I knew this and didn’t tell her. She has added hippos to her list. I can’t wait to show her these photos!😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-walk-on-the-backs-of-hippos/518254.md?page=2)