It might look docile lolling among the water lilies, but bad-tempered and surprisingly swift on terra firma, the hippopotamus has a deservedly fearsome public image in its African homeland.

• 河马懒洋洋地泡在睡莲池中，看起来似乎挺温驯的，但牠们其实脾气相当暴躁，而且在陆地上行动之迅速，令人讶异。所以在河马的故乡非洲，牠们当然也有著令人畏惧的公众形象。