African Elephant vs Hippopotamus: Which of these two African giants will prove to be the superior behemoth?
Elephant
Power, majesty, intelligence, the elephant has it all.
Elephants live in herds and, as the largest land animal in the world, they are overpowering giants with very few natural enemies. In fact, they are virtually unchallenged in the competitive realm of the wild.
In addition to their massive size and fearsome tusks, they have incredibly powerful trunks that are capable of knocking down trees.
It is no wonder that, throughout cultures and history, elephants have been revered as a symbol of strength, beauty, and even godliness.
Hippopotamus
The third largest land mammal in the world, the hippo is a living tank of muscle and fat, armed with 20 inch (51 cm) lethal tusks.
As if it wasn’t enough to have the strongest bite force of all mammals, hippos are also extremely aggressive and territorial, making them a wild fury of brute strength.
In addition to everything else, they also have very thick skin, making it extremely hard for even the most fearsome predators to penetrate.
Other than the occasional giant crocodile, lions are the only animals known to hunt full grown hippos, and it takes a large and skilled pride to be able to do so.
Analysis: African Elephant vs Hippopotamus
| Stats | African Elephant | Hippopotamus |
| Weight | 13,300 lbs (6,033 kg) | 4,000 lbs (1,814 kg) |
| Height | 13 ft (4m) | 5.2 ft (1.6m) |
| Length | 24 ft (7.3m) | 16.5 ft (5m) |
It seems pretty clear which animal has the advantage of size in this scenario; one elephant weighs more than three hippos, is over twice as tall, and is about one and a half times their height.
The hippos on the other hand, are more aggressive than elephants and their formidable, sharp tusks are capable of inflicting serious wounds. However, while dangerous, their tusks are located inside their mouths and pale in comparison to those of the elephant.
The elephant’s tusks are external, long, and protruding and are quite a bit more powerful than those of the hippo.
Tusks aside, additional advantages for the elephant are its strong, dexterous trunk and the fact that it is much smarter than the hippo.
Conclusion
Hippos are notorious for their large and powerful bodies, sharp tusks, and fearsome tempers. They are undefeatable to most opponents in the harsh, competitive African wilderness. However, even the dreaded hippopotamus bows to an even greater adversary.
With its massive size, impressive intelligence, lethal tusks, and strong trunk, the African Elephant is both an immovable object and unstoppable force all in one. Without much challenge at all, he would undoubtedly be the victorious champion in this match.