A brave hippo narrowly escaped an attack by a pride of five lions in the Kruger National Park this week.
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A hippo’s brave decision to chase off a pride of five lions in the Lower Sabie Riverbed almost went pear-shaped, as reported by Latest Sightings and observed by Kruger National Park visitor, Barry Smith.
Smith and a friend spent the afternoon observing the Lubyelubye lion pride in the Lower Sabie Riverbed when they spotted the lone hippo, seemingly appearing out of nowhere and brazenly trotting towards the five lions to ward them off.
“The first two lions didn’t take any chances and quickly scattered! But not the rest! No, the other lions decided to challenge, and you can see the chaos unfolding in the video,” says Smith, as per Latest Sightings.
WATCH:
In the video, the hippo’s desperation to escape becomes visible as the lions quickly surround from every angle.
Hippos aren’t an easy opponent to predators, but this time, it was outnumbered. This wasn’t a fight it would win.
Frightened, the hippo runs in circles, calculating its escape.
Eventually, after shaking off an opportunist lion that decided to pounce, the hippo made its swift exit to the river just a few meters away. Escaping with its life, and a learned lesson.
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