Endangered

Pygmy Hippopotamus

Choeropsis liberiensis

Endangered

IUCN Red List status · Population decreasing as of 2023 · Est. 2,500 individuals

About the Pygmy Hippopotamus

The pygmy hippo is a secretive, nocturnal relative of the common hippo, roughly a tenth of its size. Found only in the rainforests of West Africa, they are critically understudied and largely invisible to conservation programs. They are among Africa's most endangered and least-known large mammals.

Region

West Africa

Population

2,500

Trend

Decreasing

Data Year

2023

Key Facts

Weight160–270 kg (vs 3,200 kg for common hippo)

ActivityPrimarily nocturnal

SolitaryUnlike social common hippo

Lifespan42–55 years in captivity

Threats to Survival

Deforestation

Logging for timber and agricultural clearing in Liberia and Ivory Coast is destroying pygmy hippo forest habitat.

Hunting

Bushmeat hunting targets pygmy hippos despite their endangered status.

Ecosystem Role

💧

Forest waterways

Pygmy hippos create and maintain small paths through dense forest vegetation, creating waterways for other species.

Habitat Types

Lowland Tropical ForestRiversSwamps

Found In

LiberiaSierra LeoneGuineaIvory Coast

Why Africa's Wildlife Matters

Africa's megafauna are not just iconic — they are ecosystem engineers. The loss of a single keystone species can trigger cascading collapses across entire biomes. Elephants create waterholes, lions regulate prey, and predators maintain the biodiversity that keeps Africa's grasslands and forests functioning.

20%

of Earth's bird species in Africa

25%

of mammals found in Africa

3,000+

endemic plant species at risk

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