Hand Carved Jacaranda Wooden Hippo 11"

These beautifully crafted hippos are hand carved from non-endangered Jacaranda wood. The wood sculptures are made by artists scattered throughout Zimbabwe, mainly in remote rural areas. Much care as is taken in the carving and finishing of a product as well as in the selection, maintenance and delivery of these fabulous one-of-a-kind sculptures.

Mammals: Hippopotamus

Range: West, Central, East, and South Africa Habitat: rivers, lakes, and their surrounding grasslands

Uncertain future

Although the hippo is not yet endangered, its habitat has been greatly reduced over the last 200 years. Once common to all of Africa, hippos are now abundant only in East and Central Africa. Poachers sometimes hunt hippos for their large, soft ivory tusks, which are easier to carve than elephant tusks. Humans have moved into hippo habitat, using the fresh water where hippos live for farming needs. A new threat to hippos these days is hunters who kill them for their meat, which has become a popular food item