© Valclav Silha / Barcroft Media
These explosive pictures show the moment a hasty crocodile was killed after getting trapped in a maze of angry hippos.
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The spectacularly rare battle of the beasts was caught on camera by stunned wildlife photographer Vaclav Silha.
And the Czech animal lover got the shock of his life when the unbelievable scene unfolded before him.
© Valclav Silha / Barcroft Media
He had set up his camera on the banks of the Nile river in the Serengeti national park, Tanzania, to take snaps of 50 hippos bathing in the river.
But the 45-year-old got more than he bargained for when a colossal fight broke out between the group and a sneaky crocodile he had spotted earlier.
“Mutual respect between these animals means fights occur very rarely,” said Vaclav.
© Valclav Silha / Barcroft Media
“One of the only reasons you might see a conflict is if the hippos have young and they think the little ones are under threat. That’s exactly what happened here.
“The incautious croc got too close to a female who had calves and the whole group gathered into a defensive circle around them. It was a strong message for the crook to clear off.
“I have absolutely no idea why but the crocodile suddenly raced across the backs of the hippos. I think it might have panicked and thought it was a possible escape route. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
© Valclav Silha / Barcroft Media
“It was the worst choice the reptile could ever have made and it was definitely its last.
“The island of hippos suddenly erupted with teeth and all I could see was the crocodile being repeatedly crushed in their huge mouths.”
Crocodile’s have armour-plated bodies made up of tough skin and ’scutes’ – bony scales on the outside of their body.
© Valclav Silha / Barcroft Media
But the unlucky beast’s defences were no match for the raging hippos. Described as one of the most aggressive creatures in the animal kingdom, an adult hippo can apply several tons of pressure in a single bite.
“Even the toughest crocodile could not have withstood being repeatedly bitten like that,” said Vaclav, from Prague.
“There was no way for him to escape. I few seconds later his lifeless body slipped below the water and I didn’t see him again.”
© Valclav Silha / Barcroft Media
One of these pictures was originally published in the November issue of BBC Wildlife Magazine. For more stunning photos visit
Words by Liam Miller
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