Heroic hippos saves gnu from crocodile

 Did this really happen? The photos look real enough and the video tells a story that seems too unbelievable to be real. 

A hippo appears to have rescued an antelope just as a crocodile is dragging it into the water.

In grave danger: The gnu struggling to get to the bank of the river is dragged back by the crocodile

The incident happened in Kenya at the Masai Mara reserve.

The incredible rescue happened on the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya

Just as it appears to be all over for the gnu, these hippos came charging in…

The gnu is getting weaker by the second but the hippos are closing in

Then what seems most remarkable is one hippo nudges the gnu back on to the shore and looks like he’s smiling.

Israeli photographer, Vadim Onishchenko, 34, captured the entire scene and told the story to the Daily Mail.

It was an incredible moment, the hippo actually tried to push it out of the water and then guarded the gnu to prevent the crocs getting close.

The amazing moment hippos rescue a gnu from crocodile. Watch the video. Judge for yourself if this is real or not.

Another hippo notices the struggling animal and makes its way through the water

 

Watch out: The hippos group round the struggling gnu as the croc clings on

Watch out: The hippos group round the struggling gnu as the croc clings on

More hippos join and the herd scare away the crocodile as it slips beneath the murky water

 

In its panic the gnu ends up swimming further back into the water, with the crocodile holding on tightly, it is now the hippo begins to intervene

In its panic the gnu ends up swimming further back into the water, with the crocodile holding on tightly, it is now the hippo begins to intervene.

The gnu struggling to get to the bank of the river is dragged back by the crocodile, a hippo is also seen strafing both animals

The gnu struggling to get to the bank of the river is dragged back by the crocodile, a hippo is also seen strafing both animals

I have heard of cases where the animals instinct is to protect the other species, I think the hippos parental instincts took over. The hippos are probably the only animal not afraid of the crocs and I would even say the hippo is the only animal the crocodiles are afraid of.

 

The hippo is seen in this video nudging the gnu on the to bank of the river

 

One of the biggest hippos protects the gnu as it makes its way back to the shoreline, guarding it from any further attacks

One of the biggest hippos protects the gnu as it makes its way back to the shoreline, guarding it from any further attacks

Thanks bud: Back at shore, a hippo eyes the gnu it helped save

And for those wondering, the hippos did not save the gnu to eat it themselves later. Hippos are herbivores.

 

Photo credit: Cater News Agency

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