A tour guide at South Africa’s Kruger National Park has captured a dramatic and remarkable scene in which hippos rescued a wildebeest from attacking crocodiles.
The accompanying graphic footage, captured by Chase Kurucz, shows two large crocodiles clutching the wildebeest by its head and leg, respectively, at water’s edge.
“We stopped to watch all the animals come down to drink and saw a cool heron surfing on the back of a hippo, it was an enjoyable sight,” Kurucz, of Chasin’ Africa Safaris, is quoted by News 24.
“An unsuspecting group of wildebeest sauntered down to the water’s edge for a drink when a huge crocodile jumped right out and immediately grabbed one of the wildebeest, keeping its jaws locked on the animals head.”
As stated in the video, the crocs were attempting to drag the wildebeest into the water to spin and drown the animal. But their plan was doomed thanks to the presence of so many massive hippos.
One hippo is seen charging the crocs and several others surround them in a show of force that ultimately prompts the crocs to release their grasp on their prey.
Kurucz wasn’t sure if the hippos wanted in on the wildebeest kill or were merely trying to thwart the crocs’ attempts at securing a feast.
“They kept the wildebeest surrounded and it all looked like a pretty hopeless situation,” he said. “[But] the wildebeest was obviously exhausted and it seemed as if the hippos sensed its fear of the whole ordeal.
“They calmly kept close to the wildebeest but he seemed to have picked up a second wind changing direction and seeking another escape route.”
The wildebeest found that route but paused for several seconds before continuing toward shore with a badly injured leg.
The footage, captured at Gezanftombi Dam, was shared to Facebook by Latest Sightings – Greater Kruger on Wednesday.