News / Camp News

Crocodiles Feast on a Hippo

23 Feb 2010

Location:  Kwetsani Camp, Jao Concession, Botswana
Date:  18 February 2010
Observer: Martin Kays
Photographer: Martin Kays

Using a helicopter to obtain an aerial perspective of the Okavango Delta is something quite unique! You are able to marvel at this inland delta system - the largest in the world - from a bird's-eye view and get a real appreciation of the maze of watery channels and islands together with the vast number of birds and animals that inhabit this water wonderland.

On such a controlled scenic helicopter flight over the Kwetsani Floodplains, piloted by Peter Pearlstein, we spotted a flock of vultures circling over a small clearing in the papyrus. We decided to investigate the area to see what all the interest was about. In the small clearing we found the remains of a hippo that must probably died in a territorial dispute with another male.

Keeping most of these vultures from landing were five rather large Nile crocodiles. Seeing these prehistoric reptiles on a kill is a special sighting, and as they can't chew their food it can be quite gruesome to watch the way they tear off bits of flesh with their famous 'death roll.'

The propeller noise of the helicopter caused the crocodiles to temporarily retreat back into a nearby water channel and this allowed the vultures, mostly White-backed, to approach the kill. Vultures don't waste any time with the remains of a kill and will strip the carcass within minutes! Not wanting to cause any more disturbance so that the crocodiles could return we continued our scenic flight elsewhere.

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