麻豆社

In this episode, Katherine Rundell turns her attention to the hippopotamus - a rare and elusive creature with a surprising history. Among the more unusual diplomatic gifts received by the Royal Family was a pair of pygmy hippos, presented to Queen Elizabeth by the President of Liberia. It鈥檚 part of a long tradition of impractical animal offerings, and a reminder of how animals have often been treated as curiosities rather than living beings under threat.

Rundell explores the myths and misunderstandings that surround hippos, from West African folklore that claims pygmy hippos carry diamonds in their mouths, to medieval bestiaries that imagined them snorting fire. In reality, they are quieter, stranger, and more graceful than legend suggests. Though they can鈥檛 swim, they move underwater by walking along riverbeds, and when they sleep underwater they rise to breathe without waking.

Hippos kill more people than sharks and lions combined; they are the world鈥檚 deadliest large land animal. Territorial and protective, they attack not for food but for safety. Yet despite their power, pygmy hippos are endangered. Habitat loss and hunting have pushed them towards extinction, and their shrinking numbers are a stark reminder of how even the most formidable animals can be brought low by human activity.

Written and presented by Katherine Rundell
Produced for 麻豆社 Audio in Bristol by Natalie Donovan