Watch This Crocodile Pay the Ultimate Price When It Wades in a Thunder of Hippos

Do you want to play “Spot the croc?” If so, this is the clip for you. For most of the footage, it is almost impossible to find the poor crocodile amongst the crush of hippos. Somewhere in the churned-up muddy water, there is a reptile in trouble! Finally, in the last couple of seconds, you see the crocodile’s body being flung unceremoniously out of the water. Scroll down to see the hippos winning the battle of the muddy river!   

Do Hippos Eat Crocodiles?

The traditional view is that hippos are herbivores and eat only plant material. However, that is not the full picture. They have been observed occasionally feeding on animal carcasses which would make them omnivores. Field studies have shown that they eat both the flesh and intestinal tissue of carcasses of other animals. We know that they eat wildebeest, impala, and crocodiles. This phenomenon is called carnivory and when it happens it is often the entire social group of hippos that do it at the same time.

Hippos can also be cannibals and eat the carcasses of other hippos. Sometimes the hippos come across the carcasses and other times they kill the animal themselves. This behavior may explain how anthrax outbreaks occur amongst the species.

Most of the time, they depend on vegetation growing near rivers and streams for their nutrition. Their diet is made up of mainly terrestrial plants and they only really consume aquatic plants even though they spent a lot of time in the water.

Are Hippos Territorial?

Yes, hippos are very territorial and do not like other animals in their patch of the river. They have taken an exception to the presence of the crocodile and are making sure that it is removed very quickly. They are also gregarious animals and live in groups. Having said that, the herds are not fixed units and there is a lot of movement between groups. Herds of hippos usually contain between 10 and 15 individuals, but they can contain up to 50 hippos. Male hippos also defend their territory against other male hippos and this is connected with mating rights rather than with food.

Where hippos and crocodiles are living in the same area of water, hippos are the dominant species. They have been seen pushing crocodiles off a patch of land that they want to occupy. Hippos have also killed crocodiles that have strayed too close to calves. This croc had a lucky escape!

Watch the Extraordinary Clip Below