Hippos are amongst the most territorially aggressive creatures in Africa, fiercely defending their aquatic homes against all intruders. Not even babies are spared, as this brutal sighting shows.
Andi Dill submitted this heartbreaking footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while guiding at Royal Malewane within South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park.
Things take a dark turn
As Andi told Latest Sightings, he and his guests were enjoying their morning coffee at a waterhole. In the water, a large pod of hippos was wallowing peacefully.
However, things took a dark turn when a female hippo and her calf arrived, seeking a new home. Immediately, the resident pod approached.
Intruders not welcome
Consequently, the mother hippo moved to protect her tiny calf. No doubt, she realised that she was not welcome, especially by the dominant male hippo.
Hippos are highly territorial and will aggressively defend their aquatic homes from intruding hippos and other species. They have killed everything from lions to crocodiles in defence of their realm.
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Rules are rules
Realising the threat posed, the cow tried to protect her calf. But the resident bull was having none of it.
Territorial males of most species are unlikely to accept the offspring of another male. In simple terms, they are not prepared to provide for a calf that isn’t theirs.
Nevertheless, the mother tried to keep the pod at bay with half-gaping threat gestures. Even so, one got the sense that she was only delaying the inevitable.
Efforts in vain
Sadly, her efforts were in vain. According to Andi, one of the hippos took the calf in its mouth and entered the water.
By the time the calf freed itself, the hippos had critically injured it. Subsequently, it was unable to move, and its mother could do nothing to help it.
She increasingly understood that if the herd were to accept her, she would have to sacrifice her calf.
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An impossible decision
Unsurprisingly, the impossible decision tore her apart. Consequently, the herd bull forced her to defend herself too.
Her choice was simple: sacrifice and submit, or let them kill her too.
Without her, the calf could not survive. However, if the herd accepted her, she would live to breed again.
Deadly deed is done
Ultimately, the choice was taken out of her hands when two other hippos attacked and killed the calf.
In what must surely rate as some of the most challenging footage you will see, the two hippos bit repeatedly at the calf’s limp body.
Equipped with massive canines and the most powerful jaws in the mammal kingdom, there is absolutely no chance the calf could have survived.
We can only hope that death came quickly. And that the pod ultimately accepted the newly arrived female.
