Hippopotamuses are aggressive, territorial, and semi-aquatic large mammals whose welfare in zoo settings requires substantial water access and careful social management.
Common hippopotamus welfare in zoo settings depends fundamentally on the provision of adequate water access and compatible social housing. Hippos that cannot spend adequate time in water develop skin problems from desiccation, as their skin requires aquatic immersion to maintain health. Water must be deep enough for full submersion and warm enough to prevent thermal stress in cold climates. Social management requires careful compatibility assessment as hippo aggression can be lethal, but appropriate social groups provide important benefits including synchronised behaviour and social interaction that solitary housing cannot replicate. The conservation status of wild hippos, facing declining populations due to habitat pressure and hunting, adds urgency to maintaining healthy, reproductive captive populations.