In this edition of Fantasy Brawls we have two combatants who strike absolute terror into the hearts of those who dare trespass into their domain. In one corner is the largest land predator on the planet, the Polar Bear and his opponent for this brawl is the scariest animal in all of Africa, the Hippo. Today, we’ll put the Reddit and forum debates to rest by definitively crowning a victor. But we’ll first start the analysis by determining which of these creatures is bigger.
Hippo vs Polar Bear Who is Bigger?
A Polar Bear, when standing up on its hind legs can reach heights of up to 10 feet tall. This puts them at heights taller than any human could ever hope to reach. Hippos, however, can't stand on their hind legs so the tallest they will ever be is around 5 and a half feet at the shoulders. Impressive, but not nearly as scary as the Polar Bear’s height.
When it comes to weight, however, Hippos completely outclass its icy foe. Polar bears can weigh a massive 1,200 to 1,600 pounds. But the African water beast can exceed 4,000 pounds. At over double the weight of a Polar Bear on average, the Hippo takes the early advantage in the size department. Now, let’s see if all they weight translates to power in our next section.
Who is stronger, a Hippo or Polar Bear?
Polar bears pack a bite force of 1,200 psi. This makes them strong enough to crush bone and tough animal hides with ease. But again, this is an area where the Hippo outshines its opposition. An average fully grown male Hippo is hitting 1,800 psi with their strongest bites. This legendary bite force is enough to snap Nile Crocodiles in two. But, bite force isn’t the only thing we measured between these two animals. Since both possess the ability to charge and lift, we’ve compared those as well…with some surprising results.
Polar bears use their impressive grip to hang on the slippery ice they frequently traverse. They are strong enough to support their own weight as well as the massive bodies of their prey items like seals, beluga whales, and even narwhals. They routinely break up very thick ice and incapacitate many behemoths in their frozen tundra habitat. These bears are impressive but Hippos have them beat in terms of feats of strength.
In the rivers of Africa, Hippos have been known to capsize boats and maul the unfortunate inhabitants who wander too close to their stretch of river. In addition to this, they are one of the very few animals on Earth that crocodiles have a reason to fear. This is because even the toughest of Crocodiles is easily destroyed by a big, bull Hippo. On land they move like freight trains, reaching speeds of up to 25 mph in short bursts enabling them to pancake the toughest of Africa’s animals. In terms of raw power, the Hippo takes another lead.
Who Is Faster: Hippo or Polar Bear?
Unfortunately for anyone being chased by them, both Hippos and Polar Bears are fast for their size. Neither animal has an edge in a sprint with both Hippos and Polar Bears having the same max speed of 25 miles per hour. In a race between the two there wouldn’t be a clear victor but if the race drags on for a while, the hippo is likely the one to gas out first. Hippos don’t possess the same amount of stamina a Polar Bear does. This one is a tie.
Who Is More Aggressive: a Polar Bear or Hippo?
Polar bears are tough animals and ferociously hunt prey and kill with precision, however they only hunt or attack humans if they’re starving. They aren’t mindless, rage filled monsters and generally only kill or attack for a purpose. Hippos, however, don’t care if it's a human, crocodile, or kitten, if you come into its territory, prepare for the scariest encounter of your life.
Hippos attack without warning, sometimes without reason very frequently. They simply don’t like to share their turf with anyone and will kill to protect it. The winner in the aggression department is undoubtedly the Hipporageomous.
Who Wins In a Fight: a Polar Bear or Hippo?
The battle between the Hippo and Polar bear would have to take place in an area with neutral temperatures and terrain. If it took place in the Arctic, the Hippo freezes to death and if it takes place in Africa, the ice bear becomes a puddle bear. So, the stage will be flat land at around 60 degrees fahrenheit. This isn’t comfortable for either long term but more survivable than extreme temperatures.
The Hippo, being the rage monster that it is, charges as soon as the Polar Bear wanders too close. The Polar Bear, now threatened, does not back down and uses its thick, sharp claws to land some painful paw swipes against the Hippo’s neck and shoulders.
The Hippo returns fire, charging again at the Polar Bear with its mouth agape, ready to land a death chomp. The bear narrowly avoids the business end of the Hippo and bites down hard on the Hippo’s back. Unfortunately for the Polar Bear, it left its paw too close to the mouth of the Hippo while attempting to adjust itself and lost it as a result.
Reeling in pain, the bear recoils and attempts to distance itself from the water demon but its too late. The Hippo delivers one final bit strong enough to snap a croc in half and ends the Polar Bear’s undefeated streak in the Fantasy Brawls battle arena. Winner: Hippo!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Would a Hippo and Polar Bear Ever Fight?
The two animals live in such different environments that they aren’t likely to encounter each other, even in a zoo type setting.
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Could a Polar Bear Live In Africa?
It's way too hot for Polar Bears to live where Hippos reside. They’d overheat quickly due to their thick fur and body composition.
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Could a Hippo Live In the Arctic?
No, Hippos, despite their appearance, have 0 fat insulation. This would result in Africa’s nastiest warrior becoming a hippo-sicle in no time.
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Who Is More Dangerous To Humans: Polar Bears or Hippos?
Hippos are more dangerous to humans than Polar Bears, claiming way more fatalities annually. Though their proximity to people may play a role here in the numbers overall. Hippos roam close to where people hunt, swim, and fish. Polar bears generally live in places that aren’t as densely populated.
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Can a Human Outrun A Hippo?
In most cases, humans, except for prime Usain Bolt, cannot outrun Hippos and will likely get flattened. Your own hope is that the Hippo either gasses out before it gets to you or it loses interest.
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Can a Human Outrun a Polar Bear?
Humans cannot outpace Polar Bears, even in the best conditions. Most encounters with Polar Bears will take place on frozen, cold, icy land making balance and sustaining speed nearly impossible for us. Polar Bears, however, are adapted to this terrain and will run us down with ease.
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Is a Polar Bear More Intelligent Than A Hippo?
Hippos aren’t necessarily dumb but they are more instinct driven than Polar Bears who can actively solve problems and use stealth to hunt.
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Can Hippos Swim Better than Polar Bears?
Polar Bears are excellent swimmers and can swim for miles in the open ocean. Hippos don’t really swim, at least in the traditional sense. They actually run and bounce along the riverbed which sort of resembles swimming.
More Hypothetical Battles Are A Click Away!
If you enjoyed this Fantasy Brawl, you’ll love the other content on this site. For my fellow Hippo fans, check out the Hippo vs Gorilla battle. Once you’ve watched it go blow for blow with a primate. See what happens when it battles a little close to its weight class in the fantasy battle: Hippo vs Rhino. And, if you’d like to play through this battle or any of the battles on this site sign up for a free account to play against other players in gorgeous pixel art, turn-based combat. No downloads required as it runs smoothly in any browser.
