Wildlife photographer Marc Mol captured these incredible photographs of an epic stand-off between a herd of hippos and a pack of hungry crocodiles.
Mol was on a helicopter flying over Zambia's South Luangwa National Park when he and his co-pilot spotted more than 140 crocodiles feasting on a dead hippo. The herd of hippos initially fled as the crocodiles chowed down, but photographs show the hippos considering approaching the crocodiles and saving their hippo-comrade, but wisely deciding against it.
Marc Mol said the hippo was likely not killed by the crocodiles, but may have died from anthrax poisoning, which occurs increasingly during extended dry seasons.
"I was up in a helicopter above the river in the early hours of the morning and my pilot John Coppinger and I saw around 100 crocodiles feasting on a dead hippo," Mol said. ""It was a thrilling and amazing experience, one that I’ll never forget."
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