This story is not only a testament to the cunning of the leopard but also a warning about the risks it may encounter when various animals are “fishing offshore.”
An intriguing scene was shared by tour guides Mike Kirkman and Pieter van Wyk during their journey at the MalaMala Game Reserve in South Africa.
The leopard trying to catch fish when suddenly a giant hippopotamus appears and begins to move.
According to eyewitness accounts, the protagonist of the story was a leopard engrossed in hunting catfish that evening, at a time when the waterholes were gradually drying up as the weather transitioned to the dry season. Everything seemed quite peaceful until the next morning when the leopard continued to dig around the area, hoping to find more food reserves.
“It had no idea that a hippopotamus was wallowing right in that area,” Mike recounted.
As the predator carefully maneuvered around, trying to catch fish, the giant hippopotamus suddenly appeared and began to move.
Interestingly, leopards are renowned for their exceptional camouflage skills and often maximize this ability when hunting prey. However, in this instance, it appeared that the hippopotamus was the one with the better camouflage against its adversary.
The unexpected appearance of the hippopotamus not only caught the leopard by surprise but also placed it in a dangerous situation. Hippopotamuses can become extremely aggressive when they feel threatened, and with their size and strength, they can easily injure or even kill a leopard. Despite being a seasoned predator, the leopard must remain cautious when encroaching on the territory of a hippopotamus.
Despite their large and clumsy appearance, hippopotamuses are among the most dangerous animals in Africa. They can weigh up to 1,800 kg and reach lengths of up to 5 m. Despite their massive size, hippopotamuses can run at speeds of up to 30 km/h over short distances. This makes them a formidable opponent for any predator, including leopards and lions.
Hippopotamuses typically spend most of the daytime in water to avoid the harsh sunlight and keep their skin moist. At night, they often emerge from the water to forage, sometimes traveling up to 10 km in search of grass. In this case, the hippopotamus had chosen a mud pool to hide, likely due to the low water levels during the dry season.
Leopards, with their excellent hunting abilities and agility, usually do not face much difficulty when hunting smaller prey like catfish. However, inadvertently encroaching on a hippopotamus’s territory can put them in a precarious situation. Hippopotamuses are known for their aggressive temperament and do not hesitate to attack any creature they perceive as a threat.
When the hippopotamus unexpectedly moved and revealed itself, the leopard must have been taken aback. In this situation, the leopard’s instincts and agility were crucial for escaping danger. Although leopards are apex predators, they rarely have the strength to confront a hippopotamus. A bite from a hippopotamus, with canines that can reach up to 50 cm in length, can cause serious injury or even death to a leopard.
