DUBAI: This is the dramatic moment a crocodile tries to drag a wildebeest into the water, but is stopped in its tracks by two hippos.
At first it looks like the large water loving creatures are trying to save the crocodile’s victim, but it is possible the hippos were being territorial.
The footage, that has already been watched thousands of times in the first 24 hours since it was posted, is the work of Mervyn Van Wyk, 72, who was visiting the South Africa’s Kruger Park with his wife Tokkie.
The couple was watching the wildebeest grazing by the river, along with other animals when it was grabbed by a large crocodile.
The crocodiles prey put up a fight for about eight minutes, before it eventually looked like it was finally succumbing to the water and its inevitable demise, when two hippos suddenly appeared in shot and moved quickly in, giving the wildebeest a moment to escape.
But while it looks like the wildebeest lived to see another day, it has obviously suffered a serious injury to the leg the crocodile had caught it by.
Commentators on YouTube all seem agreed that while it got free of the crocodile, the likelihood is it will not live much longer with its injury as it will not be able to outrun land-based predators.
VIDEO: Wildebeest apparently rescued from crocodile by hippos, but is that really what happened?
VIDEO: Wildebeest apparently rescued from crocodile by hippos, but is that really what happened?
Sydney man jailed for mailing reptiles in popcorn bags
- The eight-year term handed down on Friday was a record for wildlife smuggling, federal environment officials said
SYDNEY: A Sydney man who tried to post native lizards, dragons and other reptiles out of Australia in bags of popcorn and biscuit tins has been sentenced to eight years in jail, authorities said Tuesday.
The eight-year term handed down on Friday was a record for wildlife smuggling, federal environment officials said.
A district court in Sydney gave the man, 61-year-old Neil Simpson, a non-parole period of five years and four months.
Investigators recovered 101 Australian reptiles from seized parcels destined for Hong Kong, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Romania, the officials said in a statement.
The animals — including shingleback lizards, western blue-tongue lizards, bearded dragons and southern pygmy spiny-tailed skinks — were posted in 15 packages between 2018 and 2023.
“Lizards, skinks and dragons were secured in calico bags. These bags were concealed in bags of popcorn, biscuit tins and a women’s handbag and placed inside cardboard boxes,” the statement said.
The smuggler had attempted to get others to post the animals on his behalf but was identified by government investigators and the New South Wales police, it added.
Three other people were convicted for taking part in the crime.
The New South Wales government’s environment department said that “the illegal wildlife trade is not a victimless crime,” harming conservation and stripping the state “and Australia of its unique biodiversity.”
