When a hungry hippo opened its jaws in an aggressive display to ward off a family of ravenous lions, they quickly decided to flee.
The fearsome display was captured in a series of photographs taken on Botswana’s Chobe River, which show a lone hippo baring its teeth for the prize of a young elephant’s carcass.
Even though it is outnumbered, the large animal confronts the lioness and her cubs to secure the opportunity to feast on the remains.
‘The lioness was feeding on a dead subadult elephant that had died alongside the river of natural causes,’ said Grant Atkinson, 46, a South African guide and wildlife photographer who witnessed the spectacle.
‘Her cubs were feeding nearby.
‘A lone hippo approached, causing the cubs to flee and hide, dragging a bone with them.
‘The lioness stood firm, but after a few minutes of jaw gaping and silent pressure, the hippo began to move closer to the lioness.’
After a tense encounter, the majestic cat retreated into nearby bushes, leaving the elephant carcass to the hippo.
However, the lioness made certain that she was first in line for leftovers.
The big cat returned to sit patiently behind the hippo and wait her turn while the hungry animal feasted on the meat.
After a few minutes of feeding, the hippo slowly made its way into the water, leaving scraps for the lioness and her cubs.
Grant, a nine-year photographer, said he had heard of hippopotamuses eating meat but had never seen it.
‘I’ve been working in the bush for 15 or 16 years, but I’ve never seen it before – it was a first for me,’ he added.
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