As a new day dawns on a changed hippo colony, the clan gathers around their fallen leader. As the colony gathers around his body, it’s hard not to interpret their behavior as mourning. While this type of procession has been observed with elephants, it is extremely rare amongst hippos.
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TRANSCRIPT
- [Narrator] As a new day dawns on a radically changed hippo colony.
(water splashing) (hippo grunting) The old bull who was once their protector, the father of their young, lies dead in one of the last remaining water channels.
One by one, the clan approach and begin gently nuzzling him.
It's not clear what is happening here.
(hippos grunting) As more gather around his body, it's hard not to interpret this behavior as mourning.
Or at least as a way of coming to terms with their loss.
(hippos grunting) This type of procession has been observed with elephants, but is extremely rare amongst hippos.
(hippos grunting)
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