AT FIRST GLANCE, A HIPPOPOTAMUS DOESN’T LOOK VERY MENACING. Their Shrek-like ears accentuate a hairless face and their chubby body is reminiscent of a harmless manatee. The hippo’s broad snout looks to be the perfect landing spot for a hand to pet, and their interesting skin texture begs for a curious onlooker’s touch. However, this is one of the most aggressive and dangerous animals in the world, responsible for an estimated 200 human deaths per year. Indigenous to Africa, the only place most of us can safely observe a hippopotamus is in a zoo, but most zoos do not have the aquatic habitat necessary to support the water-loving creature. When the Los Angeles Zoo wanted a hippo, to accommodate its size, they modified an existing exhibit, but they also needed to add something new: a heavy-duty scale to weigh the massive hippo. Read more at King of the Zoo