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Study reveals that hippos in Madagascar once lived in forests

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati have discovered that extinct dwarf hippos in Madagascar preferred forests over the grasslands that dominate the island today. The findings suggest that the grasslands were a recent change caused by human activity, rather than a natural habitat that supported these large vegetarians. The study, published in the journal Plants, People, Planet, analyzed the isotopes present in the bones of the dwarf hippos, revealing that they primarily consumed sedges and leaves instead of grass. This indicates that forests were more prevalent before human intervention altered the landscape. The researchers argue that restoring native forests is crucial for conserving wildlife on the island, as grasslands do not appear to be critical habitats for hippos. Their findings highlight the need for new conservation measures to address Madagascar’s ongoing biodiversity crisis.

 

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