The Calm Before the Charge
In the wilds of Kenya, a peaceful scene unfolded along a riverbank. A pride of around ten lions was enjoying a midday rest, sprawled across the earth under the warm African sun.
They seemed completely at ease, with no immediate threat in sight, but something was stirring beneath the water’s surface. Unbeknownst to the lions, a massive hippopotamus had taken notice of their gathering.
While lions may be apex predators, hippos are not to be underestimated, especially when it comes to defending their space.
The First Warning
Captured on video by Prajwal Shetty, founder of Africa Barefoot Safaris, the tranquil scene suddenly erupted into chaos. With explosive force, the hippo launched itself out of the river and barrelled toward the pride.
The lions immediately scattered, retreating a few meters from the bank, clearly startled but not entirely convinced the threat was serious. Hippos may appear slow or cumbersome on land, but they are surprisingly quick and highly aggressive when provoked.
This hippo wasn’t hunting, and its intentions were unmistakable: defend its territory at all costs.
A Comedic Twist
Once it reached the top of the riverbank, the hippo paused. The lions, now at a cautious distance, watched intently, trying to figure out the hippo’s next move.
Then came the truly bizarre twist: the hippo began flinging dung and urine with rapid swipes of its tail in every direction whilst maintaining eye contact with the pride! It was the ultimate display of dominance and totally humiliating for the lions.
This behaviour called dung showering or middening, is used by male hippos to define the boundaries of their territory and assert dominance with scent markers. Small mounds of dung, called middens, are often distributed around their territory which often surrounds a water source.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
What began as a tense standoff quickly turned into a ridiculous and memorable spectacle. The lions appeared thoroughly unimpressed, or perhaps confused, as they stood off to the side.
The Hippo Doubles Down
Just as the pride may have been thinking it could return to its resting spot, the hippo charged again!
This second chase seemed to convey the proper message to the lions. They moved farther off, acknowledging that this stretch of river clearly belonged to someone else.
With the lions now well out of the way, the hippo turned back toward the water and re-entered its domain, mission accomplished. It had shown the pride that muscle, confidence, and a flinging tail can be just as effective as claws and fangs.
Who Reigns Supreme?
While lions are known as “kings of the jungle,” hippos hold serious sway over their aquatic territory. Despite being herbivores, hippos are responsible for more human deaths in Africa than any other large animal!
This is largely due to their fierce territorial nature. Hippos are known not to hesitate to assert themselves, even against top predators like lions.
This interaction wasn’t about predation, it was about pride, power, and property. In this case, the hippo’s intimidating behaviour sent a clear message: lions may be powerful, but not every kingdom is theirs to rule.
