How to Escape from Hippo and Lion's Mouths Depends on Your Courage
If there's one herbivorous animal that's one of humanity's biggest killers, you'd probably guess an elephant or a buffalo, but compared to another animal, it's far more formidable. This animal causes an average of 500 deaths in Africa each year, truly earning its title as a human killer.
That animal is the hippopotamus. It's one of the largest land animals, with the heaviest recorded specimen weighing 3.2 tons. It boasts the strongest bite force of any animal, over 800 kilograms – ten times that of a human. Crucially, its mouth can open nearly 180 degrees, allowing it to shred crocodiles like snacks, let alone humans.
So, if a hippo is chasing you in Africa, what do you do? This isn't hyperbole; if you're going to Africa, you'll need to be wary of hippos and avoid being pursued, lest you end up as a fatal meal.
The scariest thing about hippos is that they have no brains and are easily angered, snapping at whoever they encounter. They've been known to bite crocodiles in half, and who knows what they'd do to a human. They're certainly not known for their vegetarian habits!
Therefore, when traveling to Africa to observe these magnificent creatures that have survived in our ancestors' diets, the primary rule is to keep them at a safe distance. Because hippos can reach speeds of 30 kilometers per hour, while an average person can only run up to 24 kilometers per hour – a 6-kilometer-per-hour difference, which is the 'head start' you need to avoid their jaws.
However, given that humans are the top predators on Earth, if a hippo could take us out, it would diminish our status. Therefore, I'll offer you some ways to escape when you can't outrun a hippo.
First, hippos are heavy, possibly weighing 40 times more than you. According to Newton's first law, the law of inertia, it would be difficult to change its direction. So, if a hippo is attacking you, slow down and, when the opportunity arises, quickly dart to the side to pass it by. But you must be very careful and time your move correctly, or you could meet a similar fate to the crocodile – you have no hard armor to protect you.
Another method is to find a tree and circle around it, making it difficult for the hippo to catch you. You can essentially make it 'huff and puff' like a bullfighter – just make sure it's a large enough tree. Of course, don't choose one that's too big, or it'll make it easier for the hippo to turn around.
Of course, these methods are only for dealing with hippos. There's another large animal in Africa that kills about 500 people a year, the same as hippos. You'd be dinner if you tried to use these methods against it. That animal is the lion, the king of the jungle. Lions are faster and more agile than humans, so playing pass with them is essentially delivering yourself as a meal. Locals are said to carry long 'dog-stick' poles and, when encountering a lion, they shout at it by pointing the stick at its throat. If a lion crouches to pounce, they rush forward and use the stick to block its throat while shouting, hoping to make it feel nauseous and retreat.
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