Unleashing a pile of poop may be a weird way for humans to greet strangers, but according to a new study, its a go-to for hippos.
A new study published in Current Biology discovered that the massive creatures can recognize each others calls or “wheeze honk.” However, if the hippo doesn’t recognize the call they’ll greet strangers by spraying a tornado of poo.
The observation came while studying a group of hippos in the Maputo Special Reserve in Mozambique. Researchers recorded calls from different hippos groups and played them back. When the animals heard a familiar sound they responded vocally versus a stranger’s call which would elicit a dung-spraying response.
Ultimately, researchers are hoping to find a way to reduce the aggression when relocating groups of animals — and preferably avoid a face full of feces.