Launch trips on Kazinga
Channel down the shore of Lake Edward provides a unique vantage
for viewing savannah wildlife. A launch trip starts at Mweya
the park headquarters along the Kazinga Channel, which joins
Lake Edward and Lake George. Truly, this is among the most exciting
and memorable experience offered by the Park. While on the trip
expect to be thrilled by yawning hippos
The ban on the export of elephant ivory in the late 1980's
was beneficial for elephants. However, it moved the pressure
onto another animal-the hippopotamus. Hippo teeth, which are
ivory, have the advantage of not yellowing as much with age,
being softer and easier to carve, and they can reach average
lengths of 24 inches. Only approximately 157,000 hippos exist
in the wild, which is only about a third or less of the number
of elephants. The elephants have protection, but how about
the hippos?
Appearance
The Hippo is a massive, semi-aquatic mammal with a mass of
up to 2,5 tonnes. It is able to walk under water on the river
bed, and can remain submerged for five minutes.
Diet
The Hippo sleeps in or alongside the water during the day
and at night forages for grass close to the water.
Breeding
Cows give birth to a single young in shallow waters, after
a gestation period of 240 days. The calve is often hidden
in reeds for a few days by the mother, after which she and
her baby rejoins the herd. Females reach sexual maturity at
the age of seven to eight years. A female can produce up to
ten young during her lifespan of approximately 35 years in
the wilds. It is a myth that the mother carries her calve.
What happens is that in cold conditions a young will rest
the front part of its body onto that of an adult to sun bathe;
due to their smaller body mass the young loses body heat faster
than adults.
