Watch the adorable moment when a baby crocodile mistakenly takes a giant hippo for a cozy rock and decides to take a rest on its back under the warm sun. This hilarious encounter was captured on camera in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.
In a South African wildlife reserve, something incredible and amusing happened. A tiny baby crocodile made a big mistake! It thought a huge hippopotamus was just an ordinary rock and decided to take a break on its back.
This cheeky little croc climbed up the side of the massive hippo and sprawled out on its wide back, looking for a relaxing spot. The hippo started moving, but the young crocodile didn’t realize it and stayed put for about 15 minutes, enjoying its cozy resting place.
Richard Millar, a 21-year-old field guide in the Kruger National Park, captured the scene on camera. When the crocodile unexpectedly showed up, Richard was originally taking pictures of the hippo in the water.
Richard shared, “I stumbled upon this hippo in the water, and there was a heron sitting on its back. Then, out of nowhere, this little crocodile crawled up and settled itself on the hippo’s back.”
The baby crocodile mistook the hippo for a rock in the water, thinking it would be a great spot to relax and soak up the sun. Crocodiles are cold-blooded creatures, meaning they must warm themselves in the sunlight.
Surprisingly, the hippo didn’t seem bothered and didn’t try to shake off its unexpected visitor. The hippo moved a little, but the crocodile remained undisturbed for 15 minutes.
In the wild, hippos and crocodiles are not usually enemies. While a hippo might try to bite a crocodile if it feels its young are in danger, they generally coexist peacefully.
Richard described the encounter as a once-in-a-lifetime moment, saying, “I’m pretty sure I’ll never get another photograph like that for the rest of my life.”
This heartwarming and funny wildlife encounter shows that sometimes animals can make amusing mistakes. It reminds us to appreciate the unexpected moments that nature brings us and cherish the wonders of the animal kingdom.
