hungry hippos

I have a newfound respect for the hippopotamus. Well, not so much newfound - my attitude towards them has been changing slowly over the years. But growing up, I had the idea of them wearing tutus and dancing ballet from 'Fantasia' and as part of the game Hungry Hungry Hippos - they are often portrayed as friendly animals. After all, they are kind of funny looking (don't tell them I said that), and not at all as ferocious looking as other animals such as lions, tigers, and crocodiles.

But over time, I've come to realize that they are incredibly ornery. I've watched some nature shows and hippos compete with crocodiles for being the meanest creatures in the rivers in which they reside. Still, they are a part of nature and need to be conserved and protected from human disruption as I've read online. We consider ourselves to be highly intelligent?