"Unusual" Pictures: Lions vs. Hippo

Bloody Battle

Photograph by Andrew Schoeman, National News/Zuma Press

Bloody scratches on the hippo's back point to a protracted battle with the lion pair.

The pictures refute a common stereotype that male lions are lazy, "letting the females do all the work," Craig Packer, a biologist and lion expert at the University of Minnesota, said via email.

Female lions generally hunt most of the pride's smaller prey, but "male lions are the primary hunters of large prey like Cape buffalo, giraffe—and hippos," said Packer, who has a National Geographic Society/Waitt Grant.

Panthera's Hunter agreed, adding that male lions are "quite good hunters," especially in opportunistic situations such as this one.

It's not easy being a male lion, he added. "Males live a tough, violent life making sure they protect the pride" from other lions.

(See big-cat pictures.)

Published July 10, 2012

"Plucky" Prey

Photograph by Andrew Schoeman, National News/Zuma Press

The "plucky" hippo put up a good fight, charging the lions repeatedly, according to photographer Schoeman.

Packer thinks the hippo may have been ill: "It is very unusual for lions to chase a hippo into deep water—they must have known it was too weak to escape or fight back."

But Hunter suggests the hippo somehow got isolated from its herd, leaving the youngster vulnerable.

What's more, lions are ambush hunters and don't necessarily have time to assess whether an animal is sick before they choose to attack, Hunter said.

By contrast, predators such as wolves will weed out unhealthy animals after running down a herd for miles.

(See more lion pictures.)

Published July 10, 2012

Top Predator

Photograph by Andrew Schoeman, National News/Zuma Press

At one point the lions hid on land until the injured hippo emerged from the water. The predators waited until the hippo got about 160 feet (50 meters) away from the water hole before chasing after him (pictured).

Lions are "ingenious" in developing hunting tactics to take on dangerous prey, noted Lewa's Watson. For instance, he said, Kenya's Borana conservancy has a pride of 18 lions that work together to take down adult giraffes.

(Also see "Pink-Hippo Pictures: Rare Youngster Spotted in Kenya.")

Published July 10, 2012

Fleeing the Attack

Photograph by Andrew Schoeman, National News/Zuma Press

In a bid to get the lions off, the hippo fled back to the water hole (pictured).

The attack's rarity is illustrated by another study done in the Kruger region, which was conducted between 1933 and 1966, Hunter said.

That survey identified 46,181 kills by carnivores—only 6 of which were hippos killed by lions. And four of those had occurred during a severe drought, when the hippos were in poor shape, he said.

(See "Prehistoric Europeans Hunted, Ate Lion?")

Published July 10, 2012

Flipping the Hippo

Photograph by Andrew Schoeman, National News/Zuma Press

The lions—now joined by a third male—attempt to flip over the hippo.

Lions hunt cooperatively when tackling such difficult prey, according to the University of Minnesota's Lion Research Center.

When hunting easier prey, though, the center says, "pride mates typically stay back until their successful companion makes the kill."

(Watch video: "Crocs vs. Lions.")

Published July 10, 2012

In for the Kill

Photograph by Andrew Schoeman, National News/Zuma Press

Eventually the lions flip the hippo, drowning it (pictured).

Panthera's Hunter acknowledged the outcome "seems terrible—but lions have to eat."

(Learn how you can help lions with National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative.)

Published July 10, 2012

More Rare Pictures: Crocodile Attacks Elephant

Photograph courtesy Martin Nyfeler

Published July 10, 2012