Hippos are primarily herbivores, and their diet mainly consists of grasses, particularly short savannah grasses. An adult hippo can consume between 80 to 110 pounds (about 40-50 kg) of grass per night, which makes up the bulk of their diet
. They typically leave the water at sunset to graze on land, sometimes traveling several miles to find food
. In addition to grasses, hippos also eat wild fruits, young shoots, reeds, and occasionally aquatic plants, although aquatic vegetation constitutes only a small part of their diet despite their semi-aquatic lifestyle
. Although traditionally considered strict herbivores, hippos have been observed exhibiting occasional omnivorous behavior. They sometimes feed on animal carcasses such as wildebeests, zebras, kudus, and even engage in cannibalism by eating other hippos. They have also been known to steal meat from predators like lions and crocodiles. This meat-eating behavior is rare and thought to occur due to food scarcity or nutritional needs
. In summary, hippos mostly eat:
- Short savannah grasses (primary food)
- Wild fruits
- Young shoots and reeds
- Small amounts of aquatic plants
- Occasionally, animal carcasses and meat (rare, opportunistic omnivory)
