A young hippo had a narrow escape from a pride of lions it encountered on the banks of the Sabie River in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Suddenly surrounded, the hippo’s best defence was offence – at least until discretion proved to be the better part of valour.
In a video filmed in July 2024, a hippo ambles alongside the river when it stumbles on the Lubyelubye Pride resting on the riverbank. Whether it did so knowingly or not, the encounter quickly became a fight for survival; with brains and brawn in fierce competition.
A seasoned survivor
The picture below shows that this hippo may have survived previous encounters with lions, as seen in the rake and bite marks on its back and hindquarters.
Predators-in-waiting
As the camera pans to the right we see the crouching forms of several lions resting near the water. Initially, the lions seem as unsure as witnesses – Barry Smith, who filmed the encounter, and his friend, Bruce – what to make of the approaching hippo.
After all, it’s not every day you see a potential meal walking right up to one of its few natural enemies!
Curiously cautious cats
At this point, we notice that the lion pride comprises adults and sub-adults. Could inexperience on the part of the youngsters be the reason the lions initially backed off?
Notice it is the youngsters who seem most curious, while the adults initially rest in the background – at least until the hippo finds itself all but surrounded by the pride.
Blindly walking into danger
Hippos have poor eyesight, possibly explaining why this unfortunate animal got into the situation that would unfold. Perhaps only noticing the lions when they move, you can almost sense the hippo’s uncertainty as it stops and scans its surroundings.
Leave It To the Adults
After a brief stand-off, it is the lions that seize the initiative. It appears that one of the sub-adults charges the hippo and when it turns to defend itself, the rest of the pride rises, attempting to outflank the increasingly desperate hippo.
A Game of Cat and (Enor)mouse
Using their numerical advantage, the lions advance and retreat, attempting to tackle the larger hippo from behind. This display of teamwork is a typical tactic used when taking on larger prey such as giraffes, buffalo and even elephants.
Pick on your own size!
Although this hippo does not appear fully grown, it substantially outweighs the predators, with a thick hide and formidable canines capable of inflicting devastating bites on enemies.
Brains vs brawn
A battle of wits ensues between the hunter and the hunted. When one of the lions spots an opening, it pounces onto the hippo’s rump for a short but wild ride.
As the hippo disappears into the river, we can only assume it is none the worse for wear. Hopefully, it will have learned not to proceed when something feels a bit off.
Said Bruce, “We could hardly believe our eyes as we watched everything unfold. One or two other motorists passed by, shaking their heads in disbelief!”
Benign to belligerent
Hippos are recognised as one of the most dangerous mammals in Africa, killing up to 500 people annually. Lions, by comparison, account for around 250 fatalities annually.
Although herbivorous, hippos are highly territorial and aggressive, particularly when resources are scarce or their young are threatened.
As the lions found out to their chagrin, don’t mistake the hippo’s comical appearance for a matching temperament. If you happen upon a hippo while on safari, be sure to give it a wide berth particularly if it is out of the water.