Wildlife watchers in Botswana have shared sightings of lions on the hunt – but the outcome might not be what you expect with their supposed victim walking away safe and sound.
“Seeing these battles play out is often difficult to watch, but also incredibly special,” says Julian Carter-Manning, founder of safari company Yellow Zebra, who shared the video.
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In the footage, several lions chase a large hippopotamus into the water, with one even trying to claw at its rump. But hippos can grow to several tonnes and aren’t to be messed with.
This hippo clearly wasn’t in the mood to become anyone’s lunch and turns round menacingly as if to warn the young lions to steer clear. They dutifully back away and loiter somewhat nervously nearby before settling down to take a drink from the waterline.
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Most of the lions in the videos are young adults trying to improve their hunting skills for adulthood, according to Carter-Manning: “Young lions that are honing their skills on large prey [see] a taste for big game in the future; they’ll be a ferocious pride.”
This spectacular sighting took place in a private reserve in Botswana. “They’re utterly pristine ecosystems that guarantee off-road driving and very few other vehicles…if any,” says Carter-Manning.
On this occasion, the group of roughly seven lions weren’t successful. A voice can be heard in the background saying: “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier for a hippo.”
Image and video credit: Julian Carter-Manning, founder of Yellow Zebra
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