Ologies with Alie Ward Hippopotomology (HIPPOS) with Rebecca Lewison
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Feb 5, 2025 
Join Dr. Rebecca Lewison, a biology professor at San Diego State University and an expert in hippo conservation, as she reveals the quirky truth about these massive creatures. Learn if hippos really sweat blood, the dangers they pose, and the intriguing phenomenon of 'cocaine hippos' in Colombia. Dr. Lewison shares hilarious anecdotes about their foraging habits, the surprising risks hippos face, and the importance of conservation efforts, including the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary. Get ready for a fun dive into the world of hippopotamuses!
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Hippo Diet and Grazing Habits
- Hippos are herbivores, primarily eating short grass due to their limited neck mobility.
- They create grazing lawns by repeatedly following the same paths to their feeding areas.
Nocturnal Behavior and Observation
- Hippos are nocturnal and primarily emerge from the water at dusk.
- Rebecca Lewison observed their foraging behavior at night using a night scope.
Fieldwork Challenges
- While observing hippos, Rebecca Lewison sometimes fell asleep on her Land Rover.
- She once woke up to elephants at eye level, a common occurrence during her fieldwork.