Hippo bites crocodile to protect her baby in South Africa

A crocodile learned the hard way not to get on the wrong side of a mother hippo.

A confrontation broke out on the edge of Lake Panic in Kruger National Park, South Africa, between the two beasts after the hippo stepped into warn the crocodile that if he had any ideas about approaching her baby, he could think again.

The hippo clamped the crocodile in its jaws as the reptile struggled to break free.

Stunned amateur photographer Ken Haley snapped the incredible photos on 11 June 11.

Speaking to Barcroft Media, he said: "The female hippo and her calf were in the dam about a hundred metres away from the main hippo pod, the crocodile was lying still on the shore pretty much minding its own business when suddenly the hippo charged out of the water and attacked the crocodile."

We think he got the idea.

The hippo was then seen enjoying a very cute snuggle with the baby it was protecting.

The pictures have emerged just a couple of weeks after two lions also learned not to mess with a hippo and her offspring.

Two fierce lions attacked a herd of hippos as they emerged from a day of wallowing in the water.

One of the beasts leaped on a hippo calf who had become separated from its mother – attempting to bring the struggling baby to the ground.

But the powerful predator was forced to turn tail when confronted by the calf's angry mother.

The incident also occurred in the Kruger National Park.

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