Hippo corpse explodes on lion

Posted on 26 January 2021

A pride of lions decided to make a meal out of a dead hippo in a lagoon in South Luangwa, Zambia. The video was taken by law specialist Heike Hochberger and shared by Latest Sightings.

Lions are opportunistic hunters so if an easy meal presents itself, they are unlikely to pass up the chance to eat. The cats started feeding off the carcass and in return, the carcass exploded in the face of one of the lions.

The lions begin feasting on the hippo carcass, minding their own business. A few of the animals then move away from the carcass while a young male remains with the meal.

After gnawing on the rear end of the hippo, what sounds like shots being fired can be heard escaping the hippo. While this isn’t the hippo getting the last laugh, it’s actually gas leaving the corpse.

When an animal dies and is left in the sun, decomposition sets in, causing gas to release within the body, which is what happened in this case.

Watch the encounter below:

Image: Screenshot from video




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