Do hippos eat dead animals

Yes, baby hippopotamuses eat their mother's feces. Some bacterias help break down food and nutrients during the digestive process. Baby hippos are born with sterile organs and don't have this bacteria. Eating the fecal matter of hippopotamuses will give the hippos the bacteria they need.

Also, some animals have diets that are very low in nutrients. Eating their feces will help them extract more nutrients they need to survive.