One bloat of hippos was caught eating the carcass of an elephant father that was lying along a river in Southern Africa.
In an unusual turn of events, photographer Brice Petit, 42, was visiting the Chobe River in Botswana back in October when he spotted the hippos nibbling on the dead animal.
According to Brice (a lab technician who works with the Elephant Foundation), it is thought that the elephant died from natural causes.We arrived on-site with the boat, and vultures as well as maraboustorks were already looking at the carcass. They were joined by two large male lions who were trying to steal the meal.
“But nobody can stop a hippos, so think of a group.
Although ‘Hippopotamus’ are herbivores, the stomachs of elephants contain 70% of undigested vegetable.
“So, it is well known that hippos could be found around an elephant carcass’ corner in these circumstances.
“But, here they were so excited they were trying to bit the carcass to make it open.
“An infant hippo caught and released the trunk of an elephant. It then kept the trunk in its mouth, and eventually ate it.
Botswana’s bloated hippos were seen tucking in to the carcass of an Elephant that lay partially in the Chobe River in October.
Brice Petit, a photographer said elephant stomachs contain 70% of undigested vegetables. It is not unusual for hippos to wait around bodies.
It was peculiar that the hippos didn’t wait for the bodies to die so they could grab the veggies. They instead tried to find their way into the stomach.
Although the elephants were visible behind the scene, it was easy to see that the hippos were huddled about the body of the deceased despite the fact that there was a large group of them.
Inquisitive hippos were seen looking at the elephant’s body before trying to eat the carcass.
Even an elephant was seen picking up the trunk of a dead elephant and dropping it in water. Then, it bit down on the elephant.
As the elephant floated in the waters, a second hippo joined him to look at its trunk.
The older animal tried to intimidate the small hippo by opening its mouth and telling it to stay away.
After having examined the elephant’s trunk in the water, the bigger hippo took a bite out of the elephant’s trunk.