In Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, a rare and fascinating wildlife encounter was filmed by Johan van Zyl. After a crocodile successfully hunted a zebra during the Great Wildebeest Migration, two young hippos approached the carcass. To the observers’ surprise, one hippo bit the crocodile, driving it away from its kill, while the other began chewing on the zebra remains. The incident revealed a remarkable moment of animal behavior that challenged expectations about how these species interact.
Hippos are generally herbivores, feeding mainly on grasses, yet researchers have documented occasional meat-eating behavior known as facultative carnivory. This occurs when hippos feed on carcasses, possibly because of nutrient deficiencies or curiosity. Although their digestive systems are adapted for processing plants, they sometimes consume meat when the opportunity arises, though it is unclear if they gain any nutritional benefit from it. The sight of a hippo feeding on a zebra carcass was both unusual and scientifically intriguing.
The event also highlighted the hippos’ naturally aggressive and territorial nature. After forcing the crocodile away the first time, the hippos continued to defend the carcass, preventing any other crocodiles from feeding. This territorial display emphasized the dominance hippos hold in African waterways. While crocodiles are usually feared predators, in this rare case, they were the ones retreating, leaving the hippos in control of both the river and the unexpected meal.
