General Discussion

The_Commonist

(2,518 posts)

31. There's this great short book called "American Hippopotamus."

Reply to Are_grits_groceries (Original post)

Fri Jan 16, 2015, 09:31 AM

Jan 2015

http://www.amazon.com/American-Hippopotamus-Jon-Mooallem-ebook/dp/B00HEWJTF4

"In 1910, the United States—its population exploding, its frontier all but exhausted—was in the throes of a serious meat shortage. But a small and industrious group of thinkers stepped forward with an answer, a bold idea being endorsed by the likes of Theodore Roosevelt and The New York Times. Their plan: to import hippopotamuses to the swamps of Louisiana and convince Americans to eat them."

Just imagine, 100 years later, having these things in the swamps of Louisiana!

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

46 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Good Lawd!!! Look at this creature that was stalking a boater in a lake in Botswana: [View all] Are_grits_groceries Jan 2015 OP

Holy Shit. Control-Z Jan 2015 #1

I think it runs underwater Cayenne Jan 2015 #5

Apparently they push off the bottom with their back legs, tuck the back legs up close to the liberal_at_heart Jan 2015 #14

Same here. Wow! nt ecstatic Jan 2015 #16

Cripes! Like a freight train! elias49 Jan 2015 #2

I think the people in the boat may have had white marbles in their pockets. Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2015 #34

Thumbs up!! elias49 Jan 2015 #37

Looks pretty smart, too, as if it knew to cut the boat off R B Garr Jan 2015 #3

Wow. How do they move so fast? Is it through some sort of undulating motion? liberal_at_heart Jan 2015 #4

Hippos were the favorite at the Roman killing festivals in the Coliseum. gordianot Jan 2015 #6

I've always heard that but never knew why? BrotherIvan Jan 2015 #28

They are extremely territorial and kill for defense. gordianot Jan 2015 #35

This is the hippo version of "Get off my lawn." jwirr Jan 2015 #38

lol! BrotherIvan Jan 2015 #42

The most feared and most dangerous animal in Africa when near the water glasshouses Jan 2015 #7

I think those guys pissed him off somehow Skittles Jan 2015 #8

That's fairly easy to do or if female she might have had young in the river glasshouses Jan 2015 #9

I read they don't even eat meat Skittles Jan 2015 #10

Yes vegetarian glasshouses Jan 2015 #12

Git them! flamingdem Jan 2015 #11

They kill more people than lions or crocs. geek tragedy Jan 2015 #13

One look at a hippo skull will give you nightmares.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2015 #15

Here's a first-person account by a guy who was eaten by a hippo. NBachers Jan 2015 #17

Wow Boreal Jan 2015 #26

We're gonna need a bigger... Motor! Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2015 #18

You know that reprehensible Christmas song about hippos... jmowreader Jan 2015 #19

I love that song. liberal_at_heart Jan 2015 #20

Me too! liberalhistorian Jan 2015 #46

Yikes! SoapBox Jan 2015 #21

Dangerous beast. Factoid: They keep waterways clear of vegetation; without them canoes can't pass Hekate Jan 2015 #22

I think they probably Are_grits_groceries Jan 2015 #23

Amen. Hekate Jan 2015 #24

They certainly keep them clear of me. Jamastiene Jan 2015 #44

I remember seeing Steve Irwin Boreal Jan 2015 #25

Oh My! malaise Jan 2015 #27

........ trusty elf Jan 2015 #29

close calls reddread Jan 2015 #30

There's this great short book called "American Hippopotamus." The_Commonist Jan 2015 #31

Disney's Jungle Cruise - My favorite ride as a kid. MineralMan Jan 2015 #32

Yes. I remember that ride. I have pictures, too. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2015 #36

When did they start outfitting Hippos with motors! Rex Jan 2015 #33

Hippos can sprint as fast as an elephant glasshouses Jan 2015 #40

That's crazy anything that big can move that fast naturally. Rex Jan 2015 #43

Here's what they look like underwater Oilwellian Jan 2015 #39

Hippos are made of bulk and rage blogslut Jan 2015 #41

I hear that Hippos are hungry hungry n/t Yavin4 Jan 2015 #45