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Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life

Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life.

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More or Less: How fast are alligators and hippos?

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Could you outrun an alligator?

08/02/2020 GMT

How fast are alligators and hippos?

BBC World Service - More or Less, How fast are alligators and hippos?

Can alligators run at 50kmph? Join us in clocking alligators’ gaits

Do you think you could outrun an alligator? What about a hippo? We speak to Professor John Hutchinson to find out more.

We all know that you should never smile at a crocodile, but rumour has it that alligators are great perambulators – at least that’s what a booklet about Florida’s wildlife claimed. Tim Harford speaks to John Hutchinson, Professor of evolutionary bio-mechanics to see whether he could outrun one of these reportedly rapid reptiles. Also – our editor thinks he could outrun a hippo, is he right? (…probably not).

Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer: Lizzy McNeill

(A large American alligator that lives in swamps in the southeastern states in the US. Credit: Getty images)

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