High-speed hippos can get airborne, says new study

Hippos have been found to lift all four limbs off the ground when moving quickly on land. Video analysis of 32 hippos showed that the fastest-moving animals spend around 15% of each stride off the ground. The study, conducted by researchers at the Royal Veterinary College, found that hippos exclusively trot, unlike other mammals that switch between walking, trotting, and galloping. The findings could aid in the care and monitoring of hippos in captivity. Future research will explore the galloping abilities of small hippos.