Witnessing a rhinoceros being attacked by a pride of lions, a herd of elephants rushed in to chase them away and attempted to rescue the rhino trapped in a muddy waterhole.
This astonishing scene was captured by Kim Hathway at Etosha National Park in Namibia.
Kim and her friends were the only ones present at the Aus waterhole that day. As they prepared to move to their next location, they spotted a lioness on the hill. The pride of lions then advanced towards the waterhole, creating an atmosphere of excitement. Kim sensed that they were ready to act.
The situation became even more intense when a herd of buffalo appeared just in time to give the rhino a chance to turn the tide. This is one of the most impressive interactions of wildlife ever recorded by visitors, according to Latest Sightings on October 31.
Moments later, a large black rhino galloped down the hill. Exhausted from the heat of Namibia, it charged straight towards the waterhole, immediately plunging into the muddy water to cool off. At that moment, the rhino seemed oblivious to the nearby predators.
The predators crept closer, but the rhino did not react much. This was when Kim realized something was wrong. The waterhole was quite deep and the thick mud at the bottom had trapped the rhino, making it vulnerable to the pride of hungry lions.
Eventually, the lions noticed what was happening and decided to take full advantage of their opportunity. Despite knowing that their prey was trapped, they were fully aware of the danger posed by a rhinoceros. The lions approached cautiously, employing hunting tactics to secure their meal.
Sadly, the immobile rhino could do little, but the chaos created by the lions provided a lifeline. A herd of elephants passing by witnessed the event and immediately sprang into action. They charged in, forcing the lions to retreat.
The waterhole was quite deep, and the thick mud at the bottom had trapped the rhino.
Once the threat was out of sight, most of the elephants continued on their way, but one elephant was reluctant to leave the rhino behind for the lions. It made every effort to try to pull the rhino out of the waterhole. It used its tusks and feet to push, but unfortunately, it had no luck.
This struggle lasted for hours, and sadly, the time came when the elephant could do nothing more. It had to continue moving on, even knowing that the lions were still around.
It did not take long for the lions to return to action. The herd of elephants was still nearby, chasing the predators away a few more times, but the elephants soon realized that this situation was hopeless and that they could do nothing more.
When the rhino was left all alone, the lions returned and ultimately flipped the rhino over, leading to its inevitable drowning. After hours of struggling, the pride of lions emerged victorious and enjoyed a hearty meal. This encounter revealed the unpredictable relationship in the animal kingdom between elephants, rhinos, and lions.
Elephants are part of the “Big Five” of Africa. The African elephant is a large herbivore with thick skin that is nearly hairless, a long flexible trunk capable of grasping, sharp curved tusks, and large ears like fans. The African elephant includes two subspecies: the African forest elephant and the African bush elephant. They are difficult to hunt due to their large size and are more likely to fight back than other species.
African lions (Panthera leo) primarily inhabit the sub-Saharan region. They are the only social cats in the world and are the second largest in the Felidae family, after tigers. Adult African lions weigh about 120-190 kg, with a body length of 1.4-2 m, excluding the tail. Male lions defend the territory of the pride, while females are the primary hunters. Their prey includes antelopes, zebras, and various other animals.
