Dr. Rebecca Lewison

Rebecca Lewis in She, Her.

Rebecca Lewis in She, Her.

Rebecca Lewis in She, Her.

I started studying hippos as a graduate student. I was at UC Davis doing my PhD in ecology, and I kind of stumbled into this project to work on hippos. My interest in was to study behavioral ecology. At the time, I just really loved, it was fascinated by sort of the minutia of animal behavior. And I thought, oh, this will be perfect.

I started studying hippos as a graduate student. I was at UC Davis doing my PhD in ecology, and I kind of stumbled into this project to work on hippos. My interest in was to study behavioral ecology. At the time, I just really loved, it was fascinated by sort of the minutia of animal behavior. And I thought, oh, this will be perfect.

I started studying hippos as a graduate student. I was at UC Davis doing my PhD in ecology, and I kind of stumbled into this project to work on hippos. My interest in was to study behavioral ecology. At the time, I just really loved, it was fascinated by sort of the minutia of animal behavior. And I thought, oh, this will be perfect.

I'll study hippos, which anyone who actually studies behavior will be laughing when they hear this because you think like, no, no, no, no. You study behavior on small things like birds or squirrels, not hippos.

I'll study hippos, which anyone who actually studies behavior will be laughing when they hear this because you think like, no, no, no, no. You study behavior on small things like birds or squirrels, not hippos.

I'll study hippos, which anyone who actually studies behavior will be laughing when they hear this because you think like, no, no, no, no. You study behavior on small things like birds or squirrels, not hippos.

But I had this opportunity because I had spent time in Kenya as an undergrad and so could speak some Swahili and had traveled around and just had a fair amount of field experience. And so I got this amazing opportunity and kind of just fell into it and didn't realize what I was getting into at the time and sort of entering this amazing world of this understudied animal.

But I had this opportunity because I had spent time in Kenya as an undergrad and so could speak some Swahili and had traveled around and just had a fair amount of field experience. And so I got this amazing opportunity and kind of just fell into it and didn't realize what I was getting into at the time and sort of entering this amazing world of this understudied animal.

But I had this opportunity because I had spent time in Kenya as an undergrad and so could speak some Swahili and had traveled around and just had a fair amount of field experience. And so I got this amazing opportunity and kind of just fell into it and didn't realize what I was getting into at the time and sort of entering this amazing world of this understudied animal.

You can't study it in the lab. You can't manipulate it at all. They're actually really hard to study, period, because they spend almost all their time in the water. You couldn't pick something less studyable if you tried.

You can't study it in the lab. You can't manipulate it at all. They're actually really hard to study, period, because they spend almost all their time in the water. You couldn't pick something less studyable if you tried.

You can't study it in the lab. You can't manipulate it at all. They're actually really hard to study, period, because they spend almost all their time in the water. You couldn't pick something less studyable if you tried.

Who didn't play Hungry, Hungry Hippo as a kid?

Who didn't play Hungry, Hungry Hippo as a kid?

Who didn't play Hungry, Hungry Hippo as a kid?

What are they eating? Are they eating mostly plants? They are eating mostly plants. So they are herbivores. They eat grass. So we can be a little bit more specific than that. They're basically like lawnmowers. They eat a tremendous amount of grass and it has to be pretty short grass. Why? Well, because it's just wait till we unpack this.

What are they eating? Are they eating mostly plants? They are eating mostly plants. So they are herbivores. They eat grass. So we can be a little bit more specific than that. They're basically like lawnmowers. They eat a tremendous amount of grass and it has to be pretty short grass. Why? Well, because it's just wait till we unpack this.