YouTube: Nat Geo WILD

Hippo Escapes Lion's Clutches to Live Another Day

Lions may be nicknamed the "King of the Jungle," but that doesn't mean everything always goes their way. This botched attack on an adult hippo by a lioness is a good example. 

You really don't want to be on the wrong end of a lion attack unless you're a hippo, apparently.

This lioness probably got a little too overconfident and forgot that hippos are one of the deadliest animals in Africa when she tried to turn this hippopotamus into dinner. As you can see, that hippo really did not appreciate it!

Check out this National Geographic video to see what I mean.

That was some rough stuff! That one lion tries awfully hard, but the hippo just won't go down. They're some of the worlds most dangerous animals, and this pride of lions doesn't seem to care. Tourists in Maasai Mara National Game Reserve, Kenya, got to see this unusual sight unfold. It's the sort of place where sightings of big cats are common.

Lions are quite capable of taking down a full grown hippo like that one, but it normally takes a focused attack from multiple lions, not a half-hearted attempt by some wild animals who normally look for easier prey. In the end, the lions were lucky because hippos are normally much more cranky than this. We have seen them kill other animals in a fit of rage before. The numbers game may have been the only reason the hippo didn't go on the offensive.

That lion pride must be trying to take down a hippo for the first time; what do you think?

Like what you see here? You can read more great articles by John McAdams on his hunting blog. Follow him on Twitter @TheBigGameHunt or check out one of his South African hunting safaris

This post was originally published on September 16, 2019.

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