A bone-chilling video has captured the horrifying moment when a colossal crocodile devours a baby hippopotamus, umbilical cord still attached, in Kenya’s Mara River. The footage depicts the crocodile effortlessly swinging the young hippo in its powerful jaws as it fights for its life. The shocking scene was discovered by Frankie Adamson, a photographer at Governors Camp Collective. The crocodile held onto the helpless calf for a daunting 45 minutes before triumphantly swimming away with its prey. While adult hippos are rarely targeted by crocodiles, Adamson suggests that this croc saw the opportunity to snatch a quick and easy meal right under the mother’s nose.
Ms. Adamson was alerted to this heart-stopping event by a colleague who noticed the crocodile thrashing about. Approaching the scene, she found the crocodile already gripping the baby hippo in its jaws, and she believed it to be deceased. However, no other hippos were present in the area, leading Adamson to speculate that the calf may have been stillborn and later discovered by the hungry crocodile. The presence of the umbilical cord still attached to the calf further fueled her curiosity about whether the crocodile had killed the young hippo or taken advantage of an already deceased carcass. Ms. Adamson revealed her thoughts to Live Science, raising questions about the hunting habits of crocodiles and their potential to prey on live baby hippos if given the chance.
The video shows crocodiles violently shaking their catches in order to kill them and tear them into smaller, more manageable pieces to consume. The crocodile in the footage almost ripped off the hind leg of the baby hippo with its fierce bite before retreating into the water. The incredible strength demonstrated by the crocodile showcases the power of these ancient predators. Weighing up to 100 lbs (45kg), a hippopotamus calf is a testament to the raw force possessed by these creatures.
Governors Camp Collection, in an Instagram post, acknowledged the rarity of crocodiles snatching baby hippos from their mothers. Despite being opportunistic creatures, crocodiles often avoid confronting hippos due to their known aggression. With adults reaching lengths of up to 16 ft (five meters) and weighing as much as 9,920 lbs (4,499 kg), hippos possess the ability to overpower and kill adult crocodiles. The species of crocodile featured in the video is the Nile Crocodile, scientifically known as Crocodylus niloticus, which typically measures between 13 and 14 ft (3.9 to 4.2 meters) in length and weighs approximately 900 lbs (410 kg). However, there have been reports of Nile Crocodiles growing up to 16.4 ft (five meters) long and weighing up to 1,300 lbs (600 kg). Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, including the Nile Basin and Madagascar, these crocodiles inhabit rivers and swamps across the region. Their diet consists of birds, fish, reptiles, and larger mammals, such as antelopes, wildebeest, and gazelles. On rare occasions, they have been known to attack other carnivores, including cheetahs and lion cubs.
As ambush predators, Nile Crocodiles patiently lie in wait underwater before launching a lightning-fast attack. They are also the fastest of all crocodile species on land, capable of sprinting at speeds ranging between 19-22 miles per hour. The evolution of crocodiles has been a fascinating process. While they have remained relatively unchanged compared to their prehistoric ancestors, the ancient crocs from the Triassic and Jurassic periods differed significantly from modern crocodiles. These early crocodiles exhibited bipedal postures and were herbivorous, unlike their carnivorous descendants. Crocodiles and dinosaurs both derived from the archosaurs, the dominant reptiles during the early to middle Triassic period. Despite their similarities, crocodiles developed more lethal jaws and splayed limbs in contrast to the straight legs of theropod dinosaurs. It was not until the Mesozoic Era that crocodiles acquired their characteristic features: stubby legs, streamlined armored bodies, and an affinity for marine environments.
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