When two tribes go to war: Incredible moment legion of hippos turn and flee after stand-off with more than 100 crocs in epic Zambian river battle
The Daily Mail (UK) |
They are some of the most fearsome creatures to stalk the waterways of Africa.
But when a army of crocodiles got snap happy with a herd of hippos, it seems that the mammals were in no mood for a fight.
Wildlife
photographer Marc Mol witnessed the ignominious retreat in a river at
Zambia's South Luangwa National Park, where hungry crocs were preparing
to rip one hippo to shreds.
Hippos turn and run after they are confronted with a float of crocodiles in a river at Zambia's South Luangwa National Park
One hippo was unable to get away and lies dead, soon to become crocodile food
The hippos, usually considered fearsome
creatures, were clearly in no mood for a fight when confronted by the
prehistoric savagery of the crocodiles
More than a hundred crocodiles descended on the
river as the hippos ran, said photographer Mark Mol, who witnessed the
scene from a microlight
Only the crocodiles seemed to be at all
perturbed by the microlight flying overhead, which Mr Mol said may be a
throwback to the days when pterodactyls ruled the skies
The hippos moved away upstream to find a new spot to bask in the water, keeping them cool in the relentless heat
Mr Mol saw the incredible scenes while on an early morning flight over the national park
'It was a thrilling and amazing experience, one that I'll never forget,' he said
Their victim lay dead on the
muddy banks of the river, surrounded by the fearsome reptiles, while the
rest of the herd turned tail. It would have been madness to stay and
fight.
More than a hundred crocodiles descended on the river as the hippos ran, said Mr Mol.
'I was up in a helicopter above
the river in the early hours of the morning and my pilot John Coppinger
and I saw around 100 crocodiles feasting on a dead hippo,' he told
Mercury Press.
'The hot
weather was relentless but it was likely this hippo died from anthrax
which lies dormant for many years but can get stirred up if the dry
season is an extended one.
'What
I did find that was most interesting was that the crocodiles appeared
to be the only animals that were concerned with the microlight flying
overhead.
'It could well be a throwback to the days when Pterodactyls ruled the skies.
'It was a thrilling and amazing experience, one that I'll never forget.'
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