Hippo
Imvubu

© Shem Compion

Igama

Imvubu [Hippopotamus amphibius]

Ukubukeka

Imvubu yisilwane esikhulu, iyisilwane esincelisayo esihlala nasemanzini, esisindo sayo singafinyelela ku-2,5 tons. Ikwazi nokuhamba ngaphansi kwamanzi emifuleni, kanti ingahlala ngaphansi kwamanzi imizuzu emihlanu.

Zidlani

Imvubu icutha emanzini noma eduze kwamanzi emini icuthele ukudla eduze namanzi.

Ukuzala

Izimazi zibeletha izinyane elilodwa emanzini angashoni, emva kwesikhathi sokuzala esiyizinsuku eziwu-240. Izinyane livame ukufihlwa emhlangeni izinsuku ezimbalwa wunina. Emva kwalokho unina nethole bahlangana nezinye emhlambini. Izimazi zivuthwela ukuzala zineminyaka eyisikhombisa kuya kweyisishiyagalombili.
Imazi ingakwazi ukuzala amazinyane aze abe yishumi ngesikhathi sokuphila kwayo cishe iminyaka engango-35 endle. Kunenkolelo ethi unina ubeletha izinyane. Empeleni ngesikhathi samakhaza, amathole agamanxisa ingaphambili lomzimba phezu kukanina ukuthamela ilanga kahle. ngenxa yobuncane bomzimba wezinyane, lisheshe ligodole kunezindala.

Ziziphatha kanjani

Amazinyane azalelwa emanzini kanti akwazi ukubhukuda ngaphambi kokuhamba. Imvubu iyisilwane esinamandla nesisheshayo ekubhukudeni, kanti ayicucuzi ukuhlasela uma ichukuluzwa. Yingakho abantu abaningi befa noma belimala endle, okuyenza iba yisilwane esincelisayo esiyingozi kunazo zonke e-Afrika. Izimvubu zivame ukutholakala ziyimihlamb ngamihlanu kuya kweu-20.

Zitholakala kuphi

Zazigcwele iNingizimu Afrika yonke kodwa manje izimvubu zitholakala KwaZulu-Natali naseMpumalanga, eLimpopo kanti zathuthulwa eMpumalanga naseNtshonalanga Kapa.

Eminye imininingwane

Imvubu ingaba yingozi kakhulu ebantwini uma imithetho yasendle ingahlonishwa. Ziyaziwa ukuthi ziluma izikebhe zamapulangwe nezikebhe ezincane nengxenye. Sandile isibalo sokuhlaselwa kwabantu yizimvubu kanti imbangela yalokhu wukungaqapheli nobudedengu babantu uma besehlane.