Alligators & Their Haters.

[blueice]

Oops, they weren't logs after all: The moment a crocodile was killed after taking a foolish shortcut across a herd of hippos



By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 3:52 PM on 19th November 2009

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Their bone-crushing jaws, 24 razor-sharp teeth and armour-plated skin are enough to ensure most animals keep their distance.
But, as our incredible pictures show, even crocodiles are no match for a herd of angry hippos.
This young reptilian predator paid the price for swimming too close to a mother and her calves while they bathed.
As 50 hippos gathered into a defensive circle around them, the crocodile panicked and raced over their backs in a bid to escape.

Enlarge Bold move: The crocodile races across the backs of the hippos in a bid to escape after trying to snare a mother and her calves



Enlarge Making a splash: The crocodile writhes and wriggles but cannot escape the clutches of his angry opponents




It was the last mistake he ever made. The beast's defences were no match for the maze of angry mammals, who proved their bite is every bit as lethal as his.
The spectacularly rare battle of the beasts was captured by Czech wildlife photographer Vaclav Silha.
He had set up his camera on the banks of the River Mara in the Serengeti national park, Tanzania, when the unbelievable scene unfolded before him.
But the 45-year-old got more than he bargained for when a colossal fight broke out between the group and a sneaky crocodile he had spotted earlier.


‘Mutual respect between these animals means fights occur very rarely,’ he said.



‘One of the only reasons you might see a conflict is if the hippos have young and they think the little ones are under threat. That’s exactly what happened here.

Enlarge In the jaws of death: The crocodile is defeated by a maze of angry hippos after trying to kill one of their young

Make it snappy: The raging hippos take revenge by biting back while feeding at the River Mara in Tanzania


‘The incautious croc got too close to a female who had calves and the whole group gathered into a defensive circle around them. It was a strong message for the crook to clear off.
‘I have absolutely no idea why but the crocodile suddenly raced across the backs of the hippos. I think it might have panicked and thought it was a possible escape route. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
‘It was the worst choice the reptile could ever have made and it was definitely its last.





‘The island of hippos suddenly erupted with teeth and all I could see was the crocodile being repeatedly crushed in their huge mouths.’


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Described as one of the most aggressive creatures in the animal kingdom, an adult hippo can apply several tons of pressure in a single bite.
‘Even the toughest crocodile could not have withstood being repeatedly bitten like that,’ said Mr Silha, from Prague.

‘There was no way for him to escape. I few seconds later his lifeless body slipped below the water and I didn’t see him again.’
One of these pictures was originally published in the November issue of BBC Wildlife Magazine.

Enlarge Finish him, boys: The crocodile writhes in its final movements before being finished off by his mammal opponents

Read more: Oops, they weren't logs after all: The moment a crocodile was killed after taking a foolish shortcut across a herd of hippos | Mail Online

[sbowers5]

Great stuff blueice thanks for the post, very interesting.
Steve

[Capt'n Mil Coll]

Now thats something you wont see everyday.
I have heard hippos kill more humans every year in Africa than any other wild animal.

[petrol]

Very interesting article. What do Hippo's usually eat? are they carnivores?

[srt 10 jimbo]

Hippo's are Herbavore's. Usually Nile Croc's and Hippo's get along for the most part.

[Wyld_Cat]

Had seen one of these pics earlier this week. Even a herbivore will defend its young. but the fact that the hippo is a herbivore is really irrelevant because the croc wasn't eaten anyway.

I've heard of hand raise species of kangaroo/wallaby take off with, and consume a large part of a roast left standing. Cats are obligate carnivores but i know of a cat that loves apple... don't try and eat apple slice, or even an apple muffin around him... Animals can, and do,eat things outside their descriptions.

Thanks for posting the full article.

[Dookiebutt]

My dogs routinely eat apples, bananas, carrots, and beans. They love their veggies. They also eat yogurt and cottage cheese.

[Wyld_Cat]

Dookie, while it might sound unusual dogs are not obligate carnivores. There gut will process content from sources other than meat.

[Big Dog]

Hippos DO sometimes eat carrion. Saw 'em do it on a PBS nature program once. Crocs killed a water buffalo, and later a hippo enjoyed a nosh on the carcass .......

[SwedeSteve]

Thanks for sharing the great pics !!

[shop tom]

Seems to me the most dangerous animals in the wild are Hippos and Asian water buffalo.

BTW, I've seen vids of Nile crocs (BIG ones) taking down full-grown Zebra and Wildebeest. Terrifying footage.

tom

[DaTeacha]

Hippo's eat terrestrial vegetation. They leave the water at night and travel pretty good distances over land to fill their bellies. They return to the water during the day for the coolness of the water and protection from the sun. When out of the water, they can run substantially faster than a human and are not averse to killing those who either get in their way or are percieved as a threat. Not much will oppose them, maybe elephants. Those jaws open so wide and the tusks are so long that most anything can be given a fatal bite fairly easily.

I'm certain that Wunhunglo will provide a lot better information than what I've shared.