In an unusual encounter at the Pilanesberg National Park, a hippo was seen trying to join in on a lion’s meal. The sighting was shared by field guide Solomzi Radebe on Latest Sightings.
Radebe was on a safari and did not expect to see such an encounter. He had come across a pride of lions on his earlier drive as they headed towards the waterhole but they didn’t show up as he arrived back.
Assuming they would soon return to the waterhole, he waited patiently but there was no sign of them.
However, he later managed to come across the pride just as they ambushed an unsuspecting tsessebe. Radebe and his guests sat and witnessed the incredible moment.
As they were enjoying the sighting, Radebe began to see a hippo bull come out of the water and advance slowly over towards the kill.
Initially, he thought that the hippo was just curious as to what was happening and that it might just chase those lions away.
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The male hippo advanced slowly towards the lions, followed by two females. In an effort to intimidate the pride, his mouth was open wide.
Picture: Unsplash / Stefan Steinbauer
Although the male lions were not too worried about the hippo, the lionesses and cubs seemed uncomfortable with his presence and kept a distance from this massive beast.
The male lions stood their ground. After all, they were hungry and were not eager to leave the carcass.
Hippos have a main diet of mostly grass. However, Radebe shared that he had seen some chewing on a waterbuck carcass some years back.
‘I could hardly believe my eyes when this hippo invaded the pride’s meal,’ shared Radebe.
The hippo was not intimidated by the lions at all. It was was as though they were all smoking a peace pipe and having a great feast together.
Normally, lions on a kill wouldn’t ever allow other animals to come closer than 70m, and that is what made this particular sighting even more special.
Watch how it all unfolded, courtesy of Latest Sightings.
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