Hippopotamuses are known as amphibious animals, but not everyone realizes that they sometimes display characteristics of “bipolar disorder,” exhibiting unpredictable mood swings.
It is not difficult to see that the topic of “personality disorders” has been and will continue to be a hot trend in the film industry recently. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder, has gained significant attention.
Hippopotamuses sometimes show signs of “bipolar disorder.”
Dissociative Identity Disorder is quite prevalent in modern films, characterized by the presence of at least two distinct personalities that exist over a long period in the afflicted individual. Statistics indicate that the prevalence of DID ranges from 0.1% to 1% of the population. Additionally, about 7% of the global population may have some form of undiagnosed dissociative disorder.
The journey into the maze of psychological changes, particularly those involving unusual mental conditions like multiple personality disorder, has always been an experience filled with thrills and surprises that many filmmakers seek to portray on the big screen. These themes provide excellent material for horror-thriller films, which filmmakers have used to create countless masterpieces over the decades.
From Hollywood to South Korea, numerous works have successfully explored this theme, resulting in unforgettable films like Psycho, A Tale of Two Sisters, Shutter Island, Split, Glass, Mouse… However, the phenomenon of personality disorders is not limited to humans; there are also several cases in the wild animal kingdom. Notably, the hippopotamus is renowned for its unpredictable nature, often described as “sunshine and rain.”
The following story, captured by Pieter van Wyk during a trip to the MalaMala Game Reserve, gives us a clearer insight.
In the clip, a small antelope is seen being chased by a pack of African wild dogs. Once targeted by this skilled hunting team, the small creature has little chance of survival.
After being chased to a small waterhole, the antelope appears exhausted and is attacked by the wild dogs. Suddenly, an enormous, angry hippopotamus rushes in to drive the dogs away, saving the antelope. Not only that, but the hippopotamus then dragged the antelope to its territory and sat beside it to protect it.
However, life is unpredictable; one moment a creature can be a hero, and the next, it can turn into a cold-blooded killer. After failing to fend off the wild dogs, the hippopotamus inexplicably unleashed its fury on the small antelope, marking the tragic end for the poor creature.
